Kamal asks customs to consider revenue mobilization as ‘rendering services’

1093
File photo

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2020 (BSS) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today asked the officials and employees of the customs department under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to consider their duty of revenue mobilization as ‘rendering services’ to the concerned stakeholders.

“I’ll ask you (customs officials and employees) to consider your duty of revenue mobilization as rendering services,” he said.

The Finance Minister was addressing a discussion meeting as the chief guest marking the International Customs Day held at the International Convention City, Banshundhara in the capital.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, NBR member Khondaker Muhammad Aminur Rahman and FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim spoke on the occasion presided over by NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present while NBR member (customs policy & ICT) Syed Golam Kibria made the key-note presentation.

Mentioning that the government is trying to simplify laws in every field where it is deemed necessary, the Finance Minister vowed to turn the NBR fully as a paper-less organization so that revenue generation increases as well as the customs procedures is further simplified.

He informed that modern scanners would be installed at all sea and land ports of the country to properly detect right or illegal goods and items.

Referring to the alleged allegation of harassment of the importers to some extent by the customs department, Kamal directed the customs officials so that the importers and the businessmen are not harassed anymore at the sea and land ports while bringing their goods and products from abroad.

Turning to the revenue generation scenario in the 1st half of the current fiscal year, he said although the revenue generation trend is a bit slow, but the overall revenue generation during the (July-December) period posted a 7 percent growth.

“We’ want to utilize our available resources at an optimum level to boost the revenue generation,” Kamal said, adding that the government posted a 14 percent revenue generation growth on average over the last five years.

The Finance Minister also directed the customs officials and employees to take oath in this ‘Mujib Year’ to build a beautiful and discrimination-less country through discharging their duties with utmost honesty, sincerity and integrity.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi suggested the customs department to further reduce the lead time in imports and exports in a bid to further simplify international trade.

PM’s Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman recommended the NBR to keep special attention so that the investors are not affected due to any policy or decision of the government.