The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has awarded five firms the prestigious “e-Return Champion Certificate” under Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) Project.

Recipients of the awards include BAT Bangladesh, Sonali Bank, Brac Bank, Renata Pharmaceuticals and Bureau Bangladesh, according to a press release.

The awards were conferred on the country’s largest taxpayers for their contribution in helping implement the government's automation agenda and its sustained support for progressive national initiatives.

The certificates were handed over at a ceremony held at hotel Le Méridien in the capital on Thursday, marking the issuance of half a million Certificates, Licenses, and Permits (CLPs) through the BSW system.

BAT Bangladesh adopted the paperless operation shortly after its introduction which ensured transparency and accountability since it eliminates the need for personal or direct contact in government procedures.

The system has significantly narrowed the scope for harassment, corruption, and unethical transactions. As a result, in addition to increased transparency, both time and costs in import and export operations have been reduced.

The government launched the BSW project in 2017 to provide an electronic, online solution for facilitating faster and more transparent international trade procedures.

The initiative combines 19 government departments under one digital portal, namely the BSW software and the Advanced Risk Management System (ARMS).

The program decreases paperwork, minimizes processing time, and adds transparency while advancing the overall agenda of the government to digitize.