Enhancing Public Availability of Customs Information
In the Islamic Countries
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Figure 44: Example of procedure flowchart in Bangladesh Trade Portal: Obtaining a Trade
License.
Source: Author.
Bangladesh Customs Portal
A dedicated Customs Portal, hosted by the NBR, The Portal is a comprehensive website for all
procedures, forms, laws and other information pertaining to customs and trade. The website is
publicly accessible, with a target audience that includes any parties participating in trade. That
audience includes: exporters, importers, and trade brokers, as well as Customs or other officials
wishing to access legislation, procedures and rulings.
The Portal responds to citizens’ demand for increased information and services and the private
sector’s need for greater transparency in trade matters. Importantly, it assists Bangladesh in
complying with relevant provisions of the Revised Kyoto Convention of the World Customs
Organization (WCO) and the WTO TFA.
National Single Window (NSW)
The Bangladesh Government has decided to establish a NSW, and the NBR signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the IFC to implement it on August 7th, 2018. The NBR will
act as the lead agency for setting up the NSW under the Regional Connectivity Project financed
by the IFC. The NBR formed a Project Implementation Unit to establish the NSW with NBR
Member (Customs Modernization) as the Project-Director and an NSWworking group has been
formed. NBR plans to sign MoUs with 60 Other Border/Government Agencies (OGAs) to
effectively implement the NSW. A sub-committee is now working on drafting the MoU in
consultation with the members of NSWWorking Group.
Administrative and Consultative Processes to Support Information Availability
Institutional and Administrative Arrangements
As the above discussion shows, numerous government sector departments and agencies are
involved in the production and dissemination of Customs and trade-related information.
Stakeholders expressed some concerns regarding a lack of coordination among them. They also