Ctg Customs House begins operation

The country's biggest revenue hub - Chittagong Customs House (CCH) - began its operation as the split components - export and import - Sunday morning.

The modification of the CCH's operations has finally become the reality after widespread cynicism and series of deferral.

The newly initiated wings - Customs House (import) and Customs House (export), started functioning formally allegedly without adequate manning and expertise.

Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Badiur Rahman inaugurated its functioning as the chief guest and Member of the National Board of Revenue AM Mashrur Ahmed joined the inaugural session as the special guest.

Divisional Commissioner in Chittagong Mokhlesur Rahman, Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Mainur Rahman Chowdhury, President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jebed, former President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) MA Salam, President of Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association AKM Akhtar Hossain among others addressed the inaugural session.

It is widely believed that the move will immensely benefit the merchants and the government.

The initiative has reportedly been planned to simplify and speed up the processing of the export and import documents, curtail the workload and delivering need-based services to the port users.

Stakeholders earlier expressed concern over the assumed difficulties of the double administration at the Customs House after the splitting. They demanded modernization and automated services ahead of the two-wing-plan.

Cliental problems and hassle will rather enhanced out of the two-wing pattern of action if the traditional methods of freight clearing are not abolished, an exporter claimed.

The customs authority is, however, agreed that the exporters and importers will be allowed to work at both the wings using single license.