The National Board of Revenue has asked customs officials to end hassle and harassment of the traders at customs houses and land customs stations (LCS) while releasing goods. The NBR chairman Md Nojibur Rahman on Sunday gave a set of directives to customs officials for taking steps to end hassle and harassment and delay in cargo clearance and release of imported and export goods. Nojibur, also the senior secretary of Internal Resources Division of the finance ministry, gave the instructions after receiving allegations that importers and exporters are facing harassment at customs houses and LCSs. He also asked the customs officials to improve the quality of services, said a NBR press release issued on the day. Currently, there are six customs houses in Chittagong, Mongla, Benapole, Dhaka and Pangoan (Narayanganj), an Inland Container Depot at Kamalapur (Dhaka) and more than 20 active LCSs across the country.The LCSs are under 13 Customs, VAT and Excise Commissionerates across the country.In the instructions, the NBR also asked the customs officials to ensure security at the customs houses and LCSs, said the press release signed by NBR senior information officer Syed A Momen. It also directed them to identify the demand of modern equipments, including scanning machine and weigh bridges, existing quantity and conditions of those equipments and take necessary measures to improve the situation. NBR chairman said that customs officials would have to work with sincerity and service-oriented attitude to facilitate export and import activities, said the release.
