Staff Reporter :
From 1 February 2025, the mandatory submission of certificates, licences, and permits (CLP) for import and export customs clearance in Bangladesh will be required through the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) system for seven government entities.
According to a notification from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), manual submissions of CLP will no longer be accepted for these seven agencies after 31 January 2025.
The seven government institutions include the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Department of Explosives (DoEX), the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (BNACWC), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and the Department of Environment (DoE).
The BSW system, developed by the NBR, is an online platform aimed at streamlining the application and processing of CLP. Importers and exporters can register on the platform using their Business Identification Number (BIN) and submit all necessary documents digitally, as outlined in the notification.
The government has emphasised several benefits of the system, including increased transparency and accountability due to minimal human interaction, significant reductions in time and costs associated with trade activities, and the ability to process procedures online simultaneously across all relevant agencies. These improvements are expected to foster greater trust among domestic and international businesses.
This initiative marks the first phase of implementation, with seven out of 19 CLP-issuing organisations included at this stage.
