Use of electronic locks to be made mandatory soon

The revenue authority plans to make use of electronic seals and locks mandatory soon on all export and import consignments to prevent tampering of goods on their way to and from the port.

Earlier in 2017, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) introduced the electronic seal and lock rules but failed to enforce it amid opposition from businesses on grounds of high costs.

The NBR will soon sit with the businesses to roll out the system, its Chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said at the launch of uniforms for customs officials.

All customs officials will have to wear the newly introduced uniforms from March 1, he said at the event at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh.

He also shared an instance when a foreign buyer alleged that a Bangladeshi exporter had tampered with a consignment and sent garment waste in place of t-shirts. 

However, the exporter claimed that he did not do that, Bhuiyan said.

This type of incident would not have happened had the exporter used electronic seal and lock, said the NBR chief.

Local businesses should start using the system as India, Nepal and Bhutan would soon start using Chattogram and Mongla ports for overseas trade, he said.

“The business will go to hands of people in other countries if we do not do so.”

The NBR will buy more scanners to boost examination of export and import consignments, he said.

He asked customs officials to be vigilant to prevent shipment of empty containers to curb money laundering and duty evasion.

He directed customs officials to collect information about the use of modern equipment and scanners at private inland container depots.

Bhuiyan also shed light on installation of electronic fiscal devices at shops.

The first consignment of e-cash registers has already arrived and the devices would be installed by the end of this month or early January, he said.

However, the exporter claimed that he did not do that, Bhuiyan said.

This type of incident would not have happened had the exporter used electronic seal and lock, said the NBR chief.

Local businesses should start using the system as India, Nepal and Bhutan would soon start using Chattogram and Mongla ports for overseas trade, he said.

“The business will go to hands of people in other countries if we do not do so.”

The NBR will buy more scanners to boost examination of export and import consignments, he said.

He asked customs officials to be vigilant to prevent shipment of empty containers to curb money laundering and duty evasion.

He directed customs officials to collect information about the use of modern equipment and scanners at private inland container depots.

Bhuiyan also shed light on installation of electronic fiscal devices at shops.

The first consignment of e-cash registers has already arrived and the devices would be installed by the end of this month or early January, he said.