Sylhet Bureau :
This year, Customs Day was observed 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:
