Ctg customs ready to offer 24hrs service: NBR

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) said it is fully prepared to offer 24-hour services at the Ctg Custom House.

“To make dynamic import and export system of the country, we are ready to serve 24 hours,” said Md Najibur Rahman, chairman of NBR, while speaking at a meeting yesterday at the conference room of the Custom House in Chittagong.

The government has already taken the decision to keep Chittagong seaport and Benapole land port open 24-hours to facilitate country's economic growth, following instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In the meeting, Md Najibur Rahman attended as the chief guest while customs commissioner AFM Abdullah Khan presided over. “If we can serve 24 hours it will be possible to get better involved in international trade,” Najibur said.

“If we can improve our quality of service, will be increase business growth as well as economic growth. Traders will be benefited. The trouble will be reduced” added NBR Chairman.

Ashok Madhob Roy, secretary of Ministry of Shipping, Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), members of NBR and leaders of trade bodies, among others, were present in the meeting.

Speaking at the programme, BGMEA Director Anjan Shekhar Das said that the vessel congestion at Chittagong Port has reached an intolerable level recently.

“A vessel has to overstay at the outer anchorage for 10 to 15 days for berthing. To leave the port, a vessel has to spend at least 20 days. As a result, businessmen are facing losses, losing customers and are compelled to make air shipments that are costly.

This is hurting the overall country’s economy,” he said.

The BGMEA director urged the authorities concerned to ease the vessel congestion, to procure necessary equipment for quick service delivery, to increase the number of scanners, and also hire skilled workers.

Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal said the auction off containers will be transferred to a new yard.

“It has been decided to begin a full-fledged navigation at night.

There will be no problem getting 24-hour service as decision was taken to buy 80 per cent of the equipment for NCT,” he added.

 According to government sources, the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the expanded 24-hour activities at the Chittagong seaport and Benapole land port through a videoconferencing on August 1.

For the smooth operation of the two ports, the authorities concerned will take steps to keep open the customs, immigration, banks and departments concerned in the respective port areas every day.

 The Foreign Ministry would also write to the Indian External Affairs Ministry to keep Petrapol port of West Bengal operational for 24 hours so that the Benapole-Petrapol operations can run round the clock.

Ctg customs ready to offer 24hrs service: NBR

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) said it is fully prepared to offer 24-hour services at the Ctg Custom House. To make dynamic import and export system of the country, we are ready to serve 24 hours, said Md Najibur Rahman, chairman of NBR, while speaking at a meeting yesterday at the conference room of the Custom House in Chittagong. The government has already taken the decision to keep Chittagong seaport and Benapole land port open 24-hours to facilitate countrys economic growth, following instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the meeting, Md Najibur Rahman attended as the chief guest while customs commissioner AFM Abdullah Khan presided over. If we can serve 24 hours it will be possible to get better involved in international trade, Najibur said. If we can improve our quality of service, will be increase business growth as well as economic growth. Traders will be benefited. The trouble will be reduced added NBR Chairman. Ashok Madhob Roy, secretary of Ministry of Shipping, Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), members of NBR and leaders of trade bodies, among others, were present in the meeting. Speaking at the programme, BGMEA Director Anjan Shekhar Das said that the vessel congestion at Chittagong Port has reached an intolerable level recently. A vessel has to overstay at the outer anchorage for 10 to 15 days for berthing. To leave the port, a vessel has to spend at least 20 days. As a result, businessmen are facing losses, losing customers and are compelled to make air shipments that are costly. This is hurting the overall countrys economy, he said. The BGMEA director urged the authorities concerned to ease the vessel congestion, to procure necessary equipment for quick service delivery, to increase the number of scanners, and also hire skilled workers. Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal said the auction off containers will be transferred to a new yard. It has been decided to begin a full-fledged navigation at night. There will be no problem getting 24-hour service as decision was taken to buy 80 per cent of the equipment for NCT, he added. According to government sources, the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the expanded 24-hour activities at the Chittagong seaport and Benapole land port through a videoconferencing on August 1. For the smooth operation of the two ports, the authorities concerned will take steps to keep open the customs, immigration, banks and departments concerned in the respective port areas every day. The Foreign Ministry would also write to the Indian External Affairs Ministry to keep Petrapol port of West Bengal operational for 24 hours so that the Benapole-Petrapol operations can run round the clock.