Home ›› 23 Sep 2021 ›› Front
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has moved to bring diplomatic bonded warehouse (DBW) facility under the automated system to curb the misuse of liquor, cigarettes and other related products imported using the duty-free facilities.
The tax administrator has already formulated the DBW facility. People who are now enjoying the DBW facility need to follow the new rules on import of the products from October 1, 2021, according to a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) issued on Monday.
“The move will help import of liquor, cigarettes and other related products easier and bring transparency in the DBW facility,” said the SRO.
The move came against the backdrop of a hoard of allegations that a large portion of these specially brought liquors has been sold in the open market or bars.
Diplomats and privileged persons living in Bangladesh usually purchase the products under the DBW facility. The NBR has already framed the Diplomatic Bond Automation System to ensure transparency of all those activities related to the import of those items.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NBR, Customs Bond Commissionerate (CBC), and NBR’s DBW and ICT wing will be responsible for operating the new system.
Currently, diplomats enjoy the DBW facility by obtaining a tax exemption certificate issued by the Finance Ministry, and a passbook issued by the CBC.
Diplomats and privileged persons are allowed to purchase liquor or liquor-like imported products and cigarettes under DBW without paying duty and tax as well as at nominal prices under the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations.
Besides, foreign nationals working with international organisations are also entitled to duty-free liquor from the DBW.
About 55,000 to 60,000 liters of liquor comes to the country every year through DBW with duty-free facilities, according to the NBR. There is a legal duty of 300 to 400 per cent on the import of liquor.
