DHAKA, Sept 8, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) to expedite and simplify customs bond-related services and provide necessary policy support to maintain the competitiveness of the garment industry.

A delegation of BGMEA, led by its Director Faisal Samad, met with Commissioner of Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) Mohammad Hasmat Ali at his office today and placed the request. 

Other members of the delegation were BGMEA Directors Sumaiya Islam and Kazi Mizanur Rahman.

During the meeting, Faisal Samad handed over a letter to Hasmat Ali on behalf of BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan bearing his signature, addressing both the Commissioners of Bond Commissionerates Dhaka (South) and Dhaka (North).

The letter requested simplification of customs bond processes and policy support for the apparel industry. Based on this letter, discussions were held on simplifying, expediting, and making customs procedures hassle-free to sustain the industry's competitiveness, said a press release.

The BGMEA Directors urged the Commissioner to take necessary steps on several issues, including: Simplification of annual audit procedures for garment exporters; Prompt settlement of non-UD back-to-back L/Cs incorporated through amendment up to June 30, 2022; Preservation of bond registers through the CBMS software; Avoiding imposition of cutting supervision requirements solely on suspicion without valid reasons; Simplifying the process of adding HS codes to bond licenses.

The BGMEA Directors also drew the Commissioner's attention to several policy support issues, including: Simplification of raw material imports under Free of Charge (FOC) arrangements; Avoiding VAT-related harassment in service activities (such as washing, printing, dyeing, embroidery, etc.) conducted by non-bonded firms for bonded garment exporters, since VAT exemption has already been decided in principle and an NBR order in this regard is under process; Ensuring smooth supply of goods and services from deemed bonded exporters to direct exporters without complications; Simplification of sub-contracting procedures.

In the meeting, the BGMEA leaders also urged the Commissioner to take urgent initiatives to reconstitute a Joint Working Committee, as was done previously, comprising representatives from all Customs Houses, Bond Commissionerates, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, and other stakeholders, to resolve short-term and long-term challenges facing the garment industry.

In response, Mohammad Hasmat Ali said that directives have already been issued to make customs-related services faster and easier in order to ensure a conducive business environment. 

He assured the BGMEA leaders that any emerging issues would be resolved promptly and customs procedures would be further simplified through mutual discussions between the Customs Bond Commissionerate (South) and BGMEA, thereby extending full cooperation towards achieving the export targets. 

Senior officials of the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka (South) were also present at the meeting.