The import clearance process in Bangladesh has become excessively lengthy and complicated, said Syed Ershad Ahmed, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham).
Speaking at the ‘US-Bangladesh Trade Reconstruction’ seminar organized by the International Business Forum of Bangladesh in Tejgaon on Saturday, he stated, “Clearing imported goods through the customs department requires 17 different signatures and takes around 7 to 8 days.”
He added, “In Vietnam, the clearance process takes less than a day, but in Bangladesh, these delays put us at a competitive disadvantage. Delays in receiving raw materials hamper both production and exports. Therefore, modernization of the customs system is urgently needed.”
Syed Ershad emphasized the need for research rather than just promotional events to boost exports. “Although there are over 50 public universities in the country, there is a lack of effective research. Without policy consistency and proper implementation, achieving desired progress in exports will remain difficult,” he said.
The seminar’s chief guest was Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor (Ministry of Finance). Participants called for simplifying import-export procedures to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the US and Bangladesh.
