Bangladesh has made mandatory the e-payment of any kinds of duty-tax, fees, and charges, linked to export and import trade, through Chittagong customs house (CHC).
From 1 January 2022, no more manual payment will be accepted, the CHC said in a notification.
“The importers and exporters themselves will be responsible for the delay in goods delivery for failing to make e-payment,” the notification added.
Earlier, from 1 July, payment worth over US$2,500 online was made mandatory to provide faster services to Chittagong port users.
Mainly the clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents make these kinds of payments on behalf of the importers and exporters. The e-payment system also aims to help prevent duty-tax evasion by port users.
Officials said the government is trying to provide faster services to Bangladeshi port users by digitising payment and delivery methods. Thus all the services are being brought to a paperless system in phases.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) recently advanced to make mandatory the submission of delivery orders electronically as part of the efforts for digitisation of all kinds of services.
From 1 December, six top shipping agents– APL Bangladesh, Maersk Bangladesh, Continental Traders BD Ltd., Continental Traders, Ocean International Ltd., and Mediterranean Shipping Company Bangladesh Ltd (MSC) — have been asked to submit delivery orders online.
The rest of the shipping agents will be asked to do the same by phases.
In the absence of an electronic delivery order system, the representatives of C&F agents collect the delivery orders in person from the offices of the shipping agents or freight forwarders to get delivery of the imported consignments.
Sharar Nayel
Bangladesh Correspondent
