HSBC arranges awareness session on customs duty e-payment system

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in Bangladesh organised a virtual session titled ‘Webinar on e-Payment of Customs Duty’ recently, according to a press release.

The purpose of the initiative is to orient the bank’s valued corporate customers about the requirements and process of e-Payment and how HSBC can support customers in their digital journey.

HSBC is the first bank in Bangladesh to offer an electronic solution for Customs Duty payments using HSBC’s electronic banking platform – HSBCNet.

By January 01, 2022 Customs duty payments through an automated system will be mandatory by National Board of Revenue (NBR) in compliance with the requirements of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

The webinar was attended by Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh as the Chief Guest and Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, Senior Secretary, Internal Resources Division & Chairman, National Board of Revenue (NBR) as the Guest of Honour. Ahmed Jamal, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank also joined the event as Special Guest. Syed Golam Kibria, Member Customs Policy & ICT, NBR; Sujeet Kumar Pai Sarvotham, Country Head and Managing Director, Linde Bangladesh;  A.A.M. Amimul Ehsan Khan, First Secretary, Customs Modernization & Project Management, NBR; Rafeza Khanom Kanta, DGM, Payments System Department, Bangladesh Bank;A K M Zahid Hossain, Senior System Analyst, NBR; Md. Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh and Kevin Green, Country Head of Wholesale Banking, HSBC Bangladesh were present among others.

Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury said, “I thank NBR and Bangladesh Bank for taking various steps for the automation of different statutory payments including e-Duty. I acknowledge HSBC for taking the initiative to create awareness among corporate houses.  Technology is changing the world and we have to embrace it to be relevant with the world. Automation of all kinds of statutory  payments should be implemented as soon as possible which will not only make the business easy but also reduce the government borrowing cost and help improve the public service.”

Mr. Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem said, “NBR is continuously trying to create a comfortable environment for any sorts of revenue collection and revenue administration and introduced many systems over last few months. ePayment is one of it, which will tremendously ease the business and customs collection. This will be made mandatory, I hope beneficiaries will take things comfortably.”

Ahmed Jamal said, “I emphasise on the awareness creation of the ’e-Payment of customs duty’ among various banks and corporate customers. If required Bangladesh Bank will further enhance the capability of RTGS to meet the demand of the business community.”