Bangladesh Customs has celebrated International Customs Day on 26 January, 2020 with great festivity as elsewhere around the world. National Board of Revenue (NBR) undertook a wide range of programmes to celebrate the day in a befitting manner. Like every year, the day was observed centrally in the capital by the NBR and was also observed regionally at eight other Customs offices across the country.
On the occasion of the day, NBR brought out a colourful rally in the morning where the customs officials along with business community, various artists and other stakeholders participated with festive mood. NBR also organized a seminar at the Bashundhara International Convention Center (ICCB), Dhaka in the evening focusing on this year’s theme and the activities of Bangladesh Customs in a view to raise awareness among the stakeholders. The seminar was graced with the kind presence of Hon’ble Finance Minister H.E. Mr. AHM Mustafa Kamal, MP; Hon’ble Commerce Minister H.E. Mr. Tipu Munsi, MP; Economic Affairs Adviser to the Hon’ble Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Mashiur Rahman and the president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI).
Officers from Bangladesh Customs; senior officials from Ministry of Finance and other ministries; representatives from private entities and relevant stakeholders attended in the seminar. During the seminar, NBR honoured 16 officials from Bangladesh Customs, one official from ICT wing of NBR and three stakeholders (organizations) with WCO Certificate of Merit for their valuable contribution to the activities of Bangladesh Customs. Furthermore, Bangladesh Customs took a lot of initiatives for awareness building among the stakeholders and common people. A documentary was prepared and circulated considering the theme of the day & recent activities carried out by Bangladesh Customs; a good number of NBR officials attended in talk show programmes of renowned TV channels where this year’s theme and customs related issues were discussed in an elaborative manner. NBR, major custom houses along with the important places of Dhaka city were decorated with lightings, banners and posters, etc.
Apart from the above mentioned programmes, special supplement was published in nine popular and widely circulated daily newspapers in Bangladesh on this occasion. Hon’ble President of Bangladesh H.E. Abdul Hamid and Hon’ble Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina both issued separate messages on this occasion wishing the success of all programmes undertaken by NBR. In their messages, they felicitated all officials of Bangladesh Customs, the taxpayers and the relevant stakeholders for their constructive roles in the economic and sustainable development of the country. They further appreciated WCO for choosing a time-befitting slogan for the Day, ‘Customs Fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet’ in the context of present world.
On the eve of ICD 2020, Chairman of the NBR Mr. Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, briefed the press about the event. During the briefing, he highlighted the theme adopted for the occasion and mentioned that Bangladesh Customs has taken a lot of modernization initiatives to facilitate trade and ultimately to create business friendly environment. The chairman also assured that NBR would remain committed to do the utmost for protection of the people and the planet in a goal to foster the sustainable development of the country.
