NBR rolls out plan to upgrade land ports

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken initiatives to develop infrastructures of some land ports to enhance trade with the neighbouring countries including India.

As part of the plan, NBR will implement a project called “Integrated Trade Facilitation Development” at a cost of Tk 314 crore under the South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme.

SASEC is partnership development programme through road connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Under the sub-regional cooperation, various infrastructure projects are being implemented.

Talking to The Business Post, an NBR official said the five-year project work would begin in January 2022 which will be completed in March 2026.

Initially, the cost of the project is estimated at Tk 314 crore. Of this, Tk 51 crore will come from the government exchequer while the rest of Tk 263 crore from the Asian Development Bank that will provide the loan at long-term low interest rate.

Under the project, infrastructure of Akhaura Land Port of Brahmanbaria, Sonamasjid Land Port of Chapainawabganj and Tamabil Land Port of Sylhet will be developed.

In addition, modern customs house, ware house, laboratory and regional training centre will be built.

The construction of the land port building will cost Tk 86 crore. Initially, Tk 129 crore has been earmarked for information communication and technology equipment and furniture.

The NBR officials said under the project in question, customs stations at Bibirbazar, Birol, Darshana, Sheola, Sonahat, Teknaf and several other land ports will be developed.

The main objective of the project is to facilitate international trade and commerce. In addition, it will help maintain a smooth supply chain between the neighbouring countries at a low cost while trade and commerce should be more secure.

An NBR official, on condition of anonymity, said the project’s preliminary proposal is being prepared which will soon be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

Talking to The Business Post, NBR Member (Customs Audit, Modernisation and International Trade) Zakia Sultana said, “As bilateral trades are going on through the land ports, so infrastructure development is the key.”

Land ports account for a panoply of imports and exports from and to India while aging infrastructure is a bar to bilateral trade.

Through the proposed project, port buildings, roads and other necessary infrastructure will be constructed.

India is using several ports in Bangladesh to facilitate the movement of goods from one state to another. Bangladesh also has imports and exports with Myanmar through land border.

In addition, Nepal is planning to use Bangladesh’s ports to transport goods by road. Bangladesh has signed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bhutan.