Bangladesh and India have identified 16 land customs stations of high bilateral trade importance and agreed to encourage the export and import activities through these stations.
Customs administrations from both the countries have also decided to improve infrastructure facilities, allow free movement of customs officials and extend car pass system to these stations.
The decisions came at the two-day ninth meeting of joint group of customs ended on Tuesday in Dhaka.
The meeting also decided to solve disputes and crisis related to customs and trade locally, not to put forward to headquarters that took more time for solving the disputes.
After the meeting, National Board of Revenue chairman Ghulam Hussain and Indian revenue secretary Sumit Bose signed agreed minutes based on the outcome of the meeting.
At a news briefing after the meeting, Ghulam said both the countries decided to synchronise working hours and days at 16 land customs stations meaning that all of the customs offices of those stations of both the countries would remain open at the same time and remain closed on the same days.
Both the countries have also agreed to keep open the customs offices at both sides of Benapole-Patrapole and Akhaura-Agartala land ports seven days a week to facilitate export-import activities between the two countries, he said.
‘Car pass system will also be extended to these stations for unloading imported goods and customs officials will be allowed to enter counter country without a visa to solve the problems,’ he said.
The decision will come into effect from January 1, 2014, he said.
According to NBR officials, the 16 customs stations are those which are functionally active and are declared as land ports in Bangladesh.
There are more than 180 customs stations in the country and export-import activities are mostly done through only 24 stations, they said.
Sumit Bose said, ‘We must sort out problems and solve those at local customs stations instead of putting forward those to head offices for top level’s decision.’
For that purpose, customs commissioner-level meetings will be held at regular basis at every two months, he said.
On withdrawing countervailing duty on export of readymade garment from Bangladesh, Sumit said that they would look into the matter.
‘The duty imposed at parliament in the last budget session. This is the decision of the highest level of the country. So we have to be aware about the reality,’ he said.
Customs officials also agreed to exchange information related to import and
export to check misdeclaration and under-invoicing that causes huge revenue loss, particularly for Bangladesh.
They also emphasised on formalising bilateral trade through easing procedures and reducing harassment.
India has also agreed to consider the proposal of Bangladesh for allowing soap export through all customs stations particularly through Akhaura and recognition of test certificates of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute.
NBR chairman Ghulam Hussain led the Bangladesh delegation while Indian revenue secretary Sumit Bose led his side.
-With New Age input
