The Role of Customs and Other Agencies in Trade Facilitation in Bangladesh: Hindrances and Ways Forward

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the Customs service and other government agencies in trade facilitation in Bangladesh with the aim of suggesting some ways forward. A combination of primary and secondary data sources were used in the study which found that traders in Bangladesh face delays due to too many official formalities, inefficiencies and arbitrary discretion in conducting their trade. These problems mostly occur in Customs and the Port Authority. Other factors such as inaccurate Clean Report of Findings (CRF) certificates issued by Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI) agencies, lack of testing facilities, cases filed by traders and false declarations by the trading community are also found to be responsible for such delays and inefficiencies in import and export clearance. The study suggests that the efforts of a single Customs or Port administration are not sufficient to facilitate trade; rather an integrated approach is imperative to this end.