The International Customs Day is being observed in the country today (Tuesday) as elsewhere in the world with the theme “Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a sustainable supply chain”.

On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing success of all programmes of the day.

In their messages, the President and the Prime Minister greeted all concerned including officials and employees of the customs department, service recipients and stakeholders.

President Abdul Hamid, in his message, said customs plays a very important role in the field of international trade or export-import.

Bangladesh customs has significant contributions to improve the living standard of people by expanding foreign trade and investment, protecting native industries and conserving environment and protecting public health, he added.

Bangladesh Customs is working relentlessly by consolidating the global supply chain, increasing effective stakeholder consensus and technology-based management to keep the wheels of economy moving in the face of global downturn in the wake of the global Corona epidemic, the president said.

“I hope that as the gatekeeper of international trade, Bangladesh Customs will be able to accelerate the country’s economy by ensuring a safe trade environment,” President Hamid said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said since 2009, the government has taken multifaceted steps to attract local and foreign investments with a view to ensuring inclusive economic development across the country.

“We have finalized the new time-befitting, easy, integrated and consolidated “Customs Act, 2020″ with an aim of repealing the Customs Act, 1969,” she said.

The members of Bangladesh Customs are working round the clock as the frontline fighters in collecting revenues and keeping the supply chain uninterrupted in import and export trade, the premier said.

“We have adopted the Customs Modernization Strategic Action Plan, 2019-2022 and started the implementation of ‘National Single Window’, an integrated service programme of 36 different ministries or agencies aiming at providing one-stop service to the businessmen,” Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister hoped that Bangladesh Customs, in the current ‘Mujib Year’ would be more successful in enhancing dynamism in revenue collection, preventing mal-trade, preventing financing for militancy and terrorism and ensuring transparency and accountability by exercising their professional skills and implementing the reforms.

“With the collective efforts of all, we will build the “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Insha’Allah,” she said.