Sylhet Bureau

This year, Customs Day was celebrated in Sylhet with the slogan "Commitment, Efficiency, Security Progress in Customs Service".

A seminar was organized at Roseview Hotel on Sunday (January 26) at 11 am on the occasion of International Customs Day-2025 by the initiative of the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Sylhet.

Speaking as the chief guest at the seminar,Colonel Saiful Islam Chowdhury, Sector Commander of BGB Sylhet Headquarters, said that in a modern state system, the role of Customs is important in increasing trade and investment, preserving domestic industries, protecting state and social security, building a self-reliant nation, and collecting revenue. Customs plays an important role not only in collecting revenue, but also in import and export security. He said, in the global situation, Bangladesh Customs is now working to collect revenue as well as to protect national security, passenger services, international militancy and terrorism, smuggling prevention, public health protection, environmental balance in biodiversity, trade facilitation and investment, development of domestic industries and export development, and dynamism in import-export activities, and above all to consolidate the domestic position in international trade and protect interests.

The seminar was presided over by Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Sylhet Commissioner Md. Tasnimur Rahman. The seminar was chaired by the President (Acting) of The Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Faiz Hasan Ferdous. The welcome speech was delivered by Md. Mizanur Rahman, Joint Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Sylhet.

The keynote address was presented by Rezvi Ahmed, Additional Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Sylhet. He mentioned that the theme of the 2025 International Customs Day has been set by the International Customs Organization (ICOO), which means "Commitment to Customs Service, Efficiency, Security, Progress". Bangladesh Customs is celebrating International Customs Day 2025 like other countries of the world. This day is celebrated keeping in mind the goals and objectives of facilitating, simplifying, liberalizing and effective border management of world trade and a decision was taken in 1947 to form a study group by 13 European countries to analyze the policies related to the International Customs Union (ICU). In light of this decision, the International Customs Union (ICU) was formed. Its first international meeting was held in Brussels on 26 January 1953. This organization was renamed the International Customs Union (ICU) in 1994. Since 2009, International Customs Day has been celebrated worldwide on 26 January every year to commemorate the first meeting of the ICU.

At the seminar, the special guest, President (Acting) of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Faiz Hasan Ferdous, mentioned that Customs is playing an important role in building a strong economic structure by successfully applying information technology in customs management, modern and automated management, application of innovative methods and interaction with international and domestic stakeholders. Customs, i.e. the Revenue Department, will ensure a sustainable supply chain system through its overall efforts to compensate for the loss of the economy, expand and grow business and trade in a new way, and fight for survival. In addition, he specifically emphasized artificial intelligence and said that artificial intelligence will play an important role in the modernization of customs in the future and in facilitating trade.

The President mentioned some notable activities of Bangladesh Customs in building a new Bangladesh and a sustainable economy and providing services to the people of the country. Among all these activities, development of domestic industry, encouragement of foreign investment, export development and unhindered, trade facilitation:

UK NRB Society demands resumption of Sylhet-Manchester flight

The leaders of the 'UK NRB Society' held a press conference demanding the uninterrupted operation of Bangladesh Biman flights on the Sylhet-Manchester route.

This press conference held at an elite restaurant in East Zindabazar, Sylhet city at 8 pm on Saturday (January 25). At the press conference, the leaders said - no excuses or drama with the UK expatriates regarding the Bangladesh Biman flight on the Sylhet-Manchester route will be tolerated. If necessary, remittances will be stopped in unity with the Sylhetites staying in North England.

M Ahmed Juned, Director of the 'UK NRB Society', read out a written statement at the press conference. He said - Bangladesh Biman flights on the Sylhet-Manchester route are being resumed for the second time in 2020 after a long closure. The flight is very important for us. About 300,000 Sylhets from various areas of North England, including Manchester, Luton, Birmingham, Wales, and Scotland, travel on this route.

From Manchester Airport, we can reach Sylhet Osmani International Airport in 10 hours. Elderly and child passengers benefit the most. But about two months ago, the Bangladesh Biman authorities suddenly canceled the online ticketing system for flights on this route. Later, we contacted them in various ways and found out that Biman Bangladesh had stopped ticketing, considering the Sylhet-Manchester route unprofitable.

There was a strong reaction among the Sylhets living in North England regarding this issue. First, we gathered a few hundred expatriates in Manchester to protest. At the same time, we submitted a memorandum to the Bangladesh Deputy Embassy in Manchester and Biman officials, and early this year, we came to the country and strongly presented our demand to continue the flights in various ways. We met the Chairman and MD of Biman Bangladesh and the concerned parties and raised this reasonable demand.

On the other hand, in agreement with our demands, former mayor of Sylhet City Corporation and advisor to the BNP Chairperson Ariful Haque Chowdhury spoke to Biman Chairman Abdul Muyid Chowdhury on the telephone last Wednesday. At that time, the Biman Chairman assured to keep the flights running. But even after 3-4 days, the Biman authorities have not yet launched the online ticketing system. As a result, we are somewhat apprehensive.

M Ahmed Juned in his speech also said - Currently, two flights are operating a week on the Sylhet-Manchester route. We have learned that Biman Bangladesh wants to close these two flights for the upcoming Hajj season. In this case, our demand is that it is necessary to operate one flight for the holy Hajj and one flight on the Manchester route. Because - a large number of expatriates come to Sylhet to celebrate Eid including Eid-ul-Azha. If two flights are canceled at once, these expatriates will suffer greatly.

Leaders of the 'UK NRB Society' said - the Sylhet-Manchester Biman route is never unprofitable. Due to some middlemen, passengers buy tickets even by paying more money. They will have to find out why Biman is not getting that money and remedy it. If the Biman authorities make any fuss or drama with the expatriates regarding the flight on the Sylhet-Manchester route, the expatriates in North England will unite and stop the remittance. Therefore, the fears of the UK expatriates should be removed by quickly launching an online ticketing system.

The leaders of the 'UK NRB Society' have sought the attention of the advisors of the current interim government through journalists regarding the continuation of Biman flights on the Sylhet-Manchester route and effective action.