DHAKA, Jan 25, 2024 (BSS) - The International Customs Day 2024 will be observed in the country tomorrow as elsewhere in the world with the theme "Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose".
 
Marking the day, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will organize a seminar at 10am tomorrow at the Multipurpose Hall of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) building in the capital's Agargaon area.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will attend the seminar as the chief guest with Senior Secretary of the Internal Resources Davison (IRD) and NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem in the chair.

Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin will be present there as special guests.

On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing success for all programmes of the day.

In their messages, the President and the Prime Minister greeted all concerned including officials and employees of the customs department, service recipients and stakeholders.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in his message, said that Bangladesh Customs plays a very important role in attracting foreign investment and protecting the local industries.

The contribution of Bangladesh Customs in consolidating the global supply chain, forging effective linkage between stakeholders and ensuring knowledge and technology-based management is undeniable in order to continue the progress of the national economy despite the various global economic crises, the President said.

"It's my belief that Bangladesh Customs will play an effective role towards preserving properly the revenues of the government, ensuring
safe trade and preventing smuggling and laundering of money," he added.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said since 2009, the Awami League formed the government four times with the determination to build a hunger-free, poverty-free and non-discriminatory state system as well as ensuring inclusive and sustainable economic development.

She said the government has succeeded in attracting both domestic and foreign investment even at this critical moment of the global economic crisis.

The premier said Bangladesh Customs has taken various initiatives including modern revenue policy formulation, digital customs services, development of advanced data warehouse, providing one-stop service, building trust among the stakeholders and grooming partnership, and best professionalism with the aim of collecting revenues fairly.

"I hope that through the concerted efforts of all the officers and employees of Bangladesh Customs, professional skills, digital management and implementation of logical reforms, it will be possible to increase internal revenue collection, building a foundation for strong economy, prevention of illegal trade, prevention of militancy and terrorism financing, prevention of money laundering, transparency and accountability in revenue administration. This is my belief," she added.

Lauding the sincere efforts from the revenue soldiers in building 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation, the Prime Minister said that the aim of the government is to materialize 'Vision-2041' and to build 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041.

Sheikh Hasina said that the per capita income of Bangladesh was only $91 in 1972 soon after the country's independence while it shoot up to $277 in just three and a half years rule of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The GDP growth rate also crossed 9 percent during that time.