Despite Friday being a weekend, Benapole Customs House opened to ensure uninterrupted import-export operations as per a directive from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The move follows a directive from the NBR, which instructed customs houses to remain operational over the weekends to clear backlogs caused by the slow performance of the ASYCUDA World System, UNB reports.
Benapole Customs House Additional Commissioner HM Shariful Islam said that although the office was open, business was comparatively low due to the weekend. It will also remain open on Saturday.
On Thursday, the NBR issued a circular stating that import and export processes had been disrupted in recent days due to system slowdowns. To mitigate the impact, customs services were instructed to continue through the weekly holidays.
Benapole Port Deputy Director Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said the port remained open on Friday, and imported goods were being unloaded from Indian trucks. “Any importer willing to release their goods will be facilitated accordingly,” he added.