Bangladesh Customs has to play a stronger role in preventing money laundering from the country. A large number of people including businessmen and government officials are laundering money abroad in various ways including corruption and tax evasion.
Huge amount of money are being smuggled out of the country every year. Customs officials must act on the basis of a fair policy to prevent this smuggling. So that no one can smuggle money abroad. In this case, digitization of Bangladesh Customs can play a significant role.
Agriculture Minister and Awami League presidium member Dr Abdur Razzque made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting on International Customs Day organized by the National Board of Revenue at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday.
The minister said, “The money for development of the country comes from taxes, VAT and other means. At one time the country's budget was heavily dependent on foreign aid. Around 15 percent to 20 percent of the budget was aid-dependent, now it has come down to two percent to three percent.”
He further said, “This has been possible because of the increase in our income from internal sources. The capacity of the National Board of Revenue has increased. As a result, income has also increased. This is a great achievement for us as a nation.”
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jasim Uddin also spoke while Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Munim, senior secretary of the Department of Internal Resources and chairman of the National Board of Revenue presided over the function.
This year, the theme of International Customs Day is ‘Development of Information-Culture and Expansion of Digital Customs through Building Information-Ecosystems’.
According to the main article, the National Board of Revenue has taken effective steps to automate the customs system in import-export trade to implement the political commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who dreams of Digital Bangladesh.
In order to ensure enhanced service, accountability and transparency, Digital Ecosystem has been working through the introduction of digital approach in the customs process, adopting modernization activities through ASYCUDA World and other partner software.
At the same time, data culture, the ability to make quick decisions through data systems, has made the customs environment as dynamic and equitable as it has been to the advancement of revenue collection.
