Mongla, July 23 (V7N) – The Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, has emphasized the need to better understand the field-level challenges facing Mongla Port in order to enhance its efficiency and usage. During a press briefing held at the Sundarban Conference Hall of Mongla Customs House on Tuesday morning, the NBR Chairman stated that after months of intense focus on the national budget, the board is now shifting attention to operational realities on the ground.

He noted the importance of assessing the facilities at Mongla Port, the volume of work currently handled, the potential for increased cargo load, and identifying any existing obstacles. The visit aimed to engage with stakeholders, including port users and customs officers, to understand their difficulties and explore avenues for improving service delivery and infrastructure support.

"We want to make full use of the operational capacity of Mongla Customs House and encourage businesses to take advantage of it. Compared to the high volume and congestion at Chattogram Port, Mongla Port remains significantly underutilized. Increasing its usage could ease traffic in Chattogram, improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately benefit the public," Khan explained.

Highlighting Mongla’s suitability for vehicle importation, the Chairman mentioned that discussions have already been held with vehicle importers to explore the feasibility of redirecting more automotive imports through Mongla. The NBR has also initiated steps to facilitate vehicle imports exclusively via Mongla Port, which currently receives a notable number of vehicle shipments.

The Chairman further emphasized that traders would receive faster service at Mongla Port, with lower demurrage charges compared to Chattogram. He expressed hope that if businesses benefit from using Mongla, they would increasingly prefer this port for their import-export activities.

Prior to the press meeting, the NBR Chairman held discussions with clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents and presided over an internal revenue coordination meeting with customs officials. His visit included an inspection of the Mongla Port jetty.

He was accompanied by Muhammad Mubinul Kabir, Member (Customs Policy & ICT); Md. Moazzem Hossain, Member (Customs & VAT Administration); Ataul Gani Osmani, Personal Secretary; and Al Amin Sheikh, Public Relations Officer of NBR.

Key regional revenue and customs officials were also present, including Md. Safiuzzaman, Commissioner of Mongla Customs House; the Commissioner of Khulna Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate; and the Commissioner of Tax Commission and Tax Zone, Khulna.

During the meeting, Commissioner Safiuzzaman pointed out the lack of dedicated government office and residential facilities for Mongla Customs House staff. This issue was formally presented to the NBR Chairman, along with demands for enhanced logistical support and resolution of existing operational challenges.

He noted that efforts are underway to convince traders of Mongla Port's efficiency in cargo clearance and lower port demurrage compared to Chattogram. The Chairman’s visit included a series of stakeholder meetings and field inspections to assess both the issues faced and the opportunities available at the port, reaffirming NBR's commitment to ensuring smoother trade facilitation and resolving logistical bottlenecks.

The NBR Chairman assured all stakeholders of continued support and strategic measures to remove operational obstacles, improve service quality, and expand the commercial reach of Mongla Port as a viable alternative to the heavily burdened Chattogram Port.

END/AHS/SMA/