Automated bond network on the cards
An initiative is on to bring bond related activities at the Customs Bond Commissionerate under automation system.
Under the system, issuance of bond licences, file movement register, utilisation declaration (UD) and lean bank activities would be made online.
Introduction of the automation system would save time and money in issuance and management of bonds alongside checking irregularities in bond related activities, said the sources at Customs Bond Commissionerate in Chittagong.
Sources said Customs Bond Commissionerate issues bonded warehouse licences to import raw materials without any duty charge against commitment of exporting the finished products.
All the imported goods are stored at the bonder's warehouse and in case of failure in exporting products against imported raw materials the importers are to pay duty charges and taxes for rest of the goods imported.
The bond commissnioerate controls misuse of bond facilities through risk management and preserve and record various data to ensure proper collection of revenue while facilitating the export business with bond facilities, sources said.
So, as part of integrated digitalisation activities at three departments under it, NBR has taken the initiative to introduce automation system.
Following an NBR directive, a project proposal (PP) has been prepared for setting up automated bond network enabling the Customs Bond Commissionerate to supervise and oversee all activities electronically and improve efficiencies and save cost as well.
As per the PP, four main modules would be developed for bond licence management, electronic bond register that would replace smoggy passbook to keep records of export and import details of a bond holder, lean bank online synchronisation and utilisation declaration management.
In the present system one intended bonder has to complete 14 rigorous steps for a bond licence from Customs Bond Office.
The automated Bond Licence Module would bring down licence issue process into four steps online licence application, verifying application with document and central database and online notification to the applicants, handling the file with new concept “e-file movement” and online approval with status and notification publication process to relevant stakeholders.
The electronic bond register, lean bank and UD modules would help keep records of export and import details of the bondholders.
Through the modules information would be submitted online for cross cheque.
They would keep all concerned like banks, BGMEA or BKMEA and Customs Bond Commissionerate updated with the latest and accurate information about export-import records and utilisation status of imported raw materials to help bond management and issue utilisation declaration easily, said the sources.
At present manual entry of export and import details and utilisation records leaves scope for corruption, said the sources.
While talking to this correspondent Chittagong Regional Customs Bond Commissionerate Additional Commissioner Dr Md Matiur Rahman said, “In the present traditional way of issuing bond licences, licencing day to day process like renewal, audit and intra-bond transfer etc, smoggy passbook management, utilisation declaration and corresponding with lien banks are done manually.
The manual process take much time while creating scope to make the system corrupt as well, he said.
“Introduction of the automation system would save time and money in issuance and management of bonds. It would also help check irregularities and corruption through providing accurate information about all bond related functionalities,” said Dr Matiur, who made the business analysis and concept development for possible IT initiative for automation of Customs Bond Commissionerate.
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