Staff Correspondent

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said that the launching of Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) would surely enhance business and transform its whole operations.

"This is one of the biggest successes of ours as we've been able to launch the BSW. Such a system or endeavor is very important since if we aren't digitized fully, then we can't move ahead. We can now avail data on import and export operations in such a single window," he said.

The Finance Adviser was addressing the soft launching of the Bangladesh Single Window as the chief guest at an event held at a city hotel yesterday evening.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) made the soft launching of the National Single Window (NSW), bringing seven customs agencies under one system to ease the import and export processes for businesses.

The project, which was undertaken in 2017, aims to streamline trade operations by ultimately combining the activities of 19 agencies related to customs under one system.

The seven agencies currently brought under the NSW are-- the Department of Environment (DoE), the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Department of Explosives, the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA).

Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi spoke as special guests.

NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan presided over the function. NBR member (customs: export, bond and IT) Md Moazzem Hossain gave the inaugural speech while Deputy Project Manager Zahid Hossain gave an overview and live demonstration of Bangladesh Single Window Portal.

Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Dr Farhina Ahmed, ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarak, Director General of DGDA Major General Md Shameem Haider and Executive Chairman of BEPZA Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman were present as guests of honour.

Besides, EPB Director [Policy and Planning] Abu Mukles Alamgir Hossain, Assistant Explosive Inspector of Department of Explosive Mohammad Mehedi Hossain and Assistant Director of DGDA Tanvir Ahmed made separate presentations and shared their experiences.

Noting that the launching of BSW is one of the most important processes of the interim government, the Finance Adviser said as part of the government's reform initiatives, this footprint would be the most effective and universal as no matter any successive government comes, they would not be able to return back to multiple windows.

About the 12 remaining agencies which are yet to onboard to the BSW, Dr Salehuddin said if those are not onboarded by February, then from the beginning of March, the Ministry of Finance would use some instruments which would be very difficult for those which would not onboard to BSW by that time frame.

He also mentioned the government's plan to give special emphasis and support to the IT sector alleging that although many allocations were made in this sector over the last 15 years, but those are not really spent, rather were gone away.

Putting emphasis on making such a system as a result-based and time-bound one, the Finance Adviser said, "We want to build a digital economy and digital country and let's start with BSW."

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that launching of the BSW would gradually turn the nation into a paper-less culture.

She noted that there is ample scope for more digitalization efforts in case of inter-agency coordination.

The environment adviser also hoped that Bangladesh would truly become a digitalized country through entering into paperless culture, providing services to the investors, breaking shackles of bureaucratic burden and hassles and thus moving towards a modern way.

The agencies have started implementing go-live or automation processes. From now on, traders will be able to avail of all types of certifications, licences, and permits related to import and export from the said agencies online using the window.

Businesses will no longer need to visit the offices in person to get the necessary documents. The remaining 12 agencies will be integrated into the window by February 28, marking the full launch of the system.

The NBR initiated the project dubbed "National Single Window" in 2017 to bring the activities of different customs agencies dealing with customs-related activities under one umbrella and thus enhance trade operations by eliminating paperwork and reducing time through maintaining up-to-date information.

The window will automate and streamline procedures for international trade-related permits, licenses, certificates, and customs declarations.

It is expected to reduce paperwork, time, and costs for traders. It also aims to prevent tax evasion with the assistance of the World Bank (WB).

Using the system, an importer-exporter can obtain all the certificates, licenses and permits and submit the necessary information on a single online platform for clearance of goods. The consignment can be redeemed at the earliest through the certificate issued on the basis of the submitted data.

The system has an Internet-based information window for all organisations involved in international trade. Once fully operational, the window will make the import-export procedure easier, reduce the cost of doing business and speed up goods clearance from ports.

The system, single window has two main systems- BSW (Bangladesh Single Window) software and ARMS (Advance Risk Management System), which is implementable as per Article 10.7 of the TF Agreement. The ARMS system is linked to the BSW software.

If a trader applies for a CLP (Certificate, License, Permits) on the BSW platform, the application will be immediately forwarded to the authorities concerned with feedback on the previous track record of the applicant with the help of ARMS.

As a result, the authorities will be aware of the applicant's track record and will be able to make decisions on CLP issues through risk management where applicable. BSW software has a total of nine modules.