To reduce the hassles of visitors and tourists from Bangladesh, India is going to increase the number of counters and manpower in the Indian side of customs in the borders. The Indian authority will also construct a number of passenger sheds on their side to provide resting places for the visitors and tourists.
The decisions were taken during the two-day-long joint meeting between Bangladesh and Indian customs on January 8 and 9. Talking with The Independent, Dr Moinul Khan, Director General of Customs Intelligence, who was in the joint meeting, said that the discussions taken in the meeting were very fruitful.
“There were several decisions taken and the Indian authority pledged us to increase the facilities for the Bangladeshi visitors and tourists,” he added. He said that the Indian customs authorities will
regularly provide updated information about the imported and exported goods to and from Bangladesh so that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) would get accurate facts for tax collection.  Besides, the Indian authority told Bangladesh that they would press the Indian central authorities to take the clearance and certification of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) into consideration all the time, he added. During the meeting, Md Jamal Hossain, commissioner of customs in Jessore, Md Shawkat Hossain, commissioner of customs at Benapole, and second secretary of the NBR Ziaur Rahman were present. From the Indian side, Dr NK Saren of Kolkata customs was present.