Starting from March, all import and export activities in Bangladesh will transition to a paperless, fully online system, as announced by Financial Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. To streamline the process, seven customs-related agencies have been integrated into a single platform.
The agencies include the Department of Environment, Directorate General of Drug Administration, Export Promotion Bureau, Department of Explosives, Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority. These organizations have already initiated automation processes. Through this platform, businesses will now be able to obtain all necessary certificates, licenses, and permits for import and export activities online, eliminating the need to visit offices for paperwork.
By February 28, an additional 12 agencies are expected to be integrated into the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) system, making it fully operational.
On Thursday, January 2, the partial launch of the BSW system was announced at a ceremony held in Dhaka, with Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Advisor for Science, Technology, and Finance, attending as the chief guest.
Dr. Ahmed stated that from February onward, all 19 departments involved in import and export licenses must process applications exclusively online. He added, “If applications are not submitted online, we have the tools to address this. Our Finance Secretary will withhold allocations to departments failing to comply.”
Reflecting on past efforts, Dr. Ahmed remarked, “Despite significant expenditures over the last 15 years to promote digitization, the results have been underwhelming. We were only told stories about going digital. When Jatrabari police station burned down, there was no backup documentation. We are committed to financing an effective digital transformation for the country.”
At the same event, Environmental Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized the importance of digitization, saying, “The Secretariat fire made us realize the significance of digital systems. All documents burned, and there were no backups. Yet we were told that the country was becoming digital and smart.”
Presiding over the event, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan commented, “We have long claimed that Bangladesh is now smart and on the highway to development. But incidents like the loss of records in a police station fire due to the absence of online systems expose the gaps in this narrative.”
