Dhaka: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) to expedite and simplify customs bond-related services and provide necessary policy support to maintain the competitiveness of the garment industry. A delegation of BGMEA, led by its Director Faisal Samad, met with Commissioner of Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) Mohammad Hasmat Ali at his office today and placed the request.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, other members of the delegation included BGMEA Directors Sumaiya Islam and Kazi Mizanur Rahman. During the meeting, Faisal Samad handed over a letter to Hasmat Ali on behalf of BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan. The letter, bearing Khan’s signature, was addressed to both the Commissioners of Bond Commissionerates Dhaka (South) and Dhaka (North). It requested the simplification of customs bond processes and policy support for the apparel industry.
Discussions focused on simplifying, expediting, and making customs procedures hassle-free to sustain the industry’s competitiveness, as stated in a press release. The BGMEA Directors urged the Commissioner to address several issues, including the simplification of annual audit procedures for garment exporters, prompt settlement of non-UD back-to-back L/Cs amended up to June 30, 2022, and preservation of bond registers through the CBMS software. They also sought to avoid imposition of cutting supervision requirements without valid reasons and to simplify the process of adding HS codes to bond licenses.
The BGMEA Directors highlighted the need for policy support, including the simplification of raw material imports under Free of Charge (FOC) arrangements and avoiding VAT-related harassment in service activities conducted by non-bonded firms for bonded garment exporters. They emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth supply of goods and services from deemed bonded exporters to direct exporters without complications and called for simplifying sub-contracting procedures.
During the meeting, BGMEA leaders also urged the Commissioner to reconstitute a Joint Working Committee, as was done previously, comprising representatives from all Customs Houses, Bond Commissionerates, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, and other stakeholders to address short-term and long-term challenges facing the garment industry.
In response, Mohammad Hasmat Ali stated that directives have already been issued to make customs-related services faster and easier to ensure a conducive business environment. He assured the BGMEA leaders that any emerging issues would be resolved promptly and customs procedures would be further simplified through mutual discussions between the Customs Bond Commissionerate (South) and BGMEA, thereby extending full cooperation towards achieving the export targets. Senior officials of the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) were also present at the meeting.