DHAKA, Sept 18, 2025 (BSS) - Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today urged all concerned stakeholders and businesses to come forward and join the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) and thus taking their desired services in moving forward the country’s economy.

“I’ll request all business people to come forward and join the BSW. I expect that other businesses will also come forward,” he said.

The Finance Adviser was addressing an event of Celebrating Half a Million CLPs, Seminar on Paperless Customs & Conferring "e-Return Champion Certificate" to the Tax Payers at a hotel in the capital today.

Salehuddin said that there would be no compromise with digitalization as rendering due services by the revenue board within specified timeframe is always very important.

He noted that if required services can be ensured, then the business people would come forward to pay their charges.

“Without the business people and without the private sector, we can’t prosper further,” he said adding that countries like Brazil have one of the highest Tax-GDP ratio in the world since they provide seamless services to their people.

The Finance Adviser noted, “When you walk, you create a path. In this way, BSW has created a path and others will come to the process of digitalization.”

Sk. Bashir Uddin, Commerce Adviser, Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, spoke on the occasion as special guests.

Besides, Jean Pesme, Division Director, World Bank, Bangladesh and Bhutan office spoke as a guest of honour.

Secretary of the Internal Resources Division and Chairman, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abdur Rahman Khan presided over the seminar.

Jewel Ahmed, Project Director of National Single Window Project made a power-point presentation while NBR Member Kazi Mostafizur Rahman gave the address of welcome.

The concerned stakeholders also shared their experience on BSW through six video clips.

Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) is an online platform for the exchange of trade information between traders and the government agency; it is introduced to facilitate faster international trade.

Besides, some 90.77 percent CLPs were processed less than a day.

Key Benefits are: Most CLPs approved in a day or less; Transparent and Accountable processing;  Cost and Time savings through digitalization; 
24/7 submission and web monitoring; 

Speakers at the event highlighted the positive impacts of the BSW platform. The BSW system plays a vital role in reducing costs for importers and exporters by simplifying and ensuring transparency in trade processes.

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin said that Bangladesh is the 91st country to have rolled out BSW. “Although it’s bit late in accomplishing this, but I wish we could have done it faster,”

He underscored the need for bringing efficiency at different tiers in transaction since the country needs to import raw materials and intermediary goods.

Bashir said the successful operations of BSW would generate enormous value for the country’s economy.

Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi said that the execution of the National Single Project was initially a challenge, but after taking responsibility by the interim government, the project really got pace.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury said that he was overwhelmed with the successes and achievements of the NBR regarding the BSW.

He noted that the launching of the BSW was the single most important achievement of the government to help Bangladesh graduate from the LDC status.

Dr Chowdhury said who could have thought that Bangladesh could have attained the milestone of more than half a million CLPs over the last few months. “With these successes, we can say we can do it and we’ll do it.”

NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said that they are trying to automate the revenue board’s systems and process to yield better outputs and services.

He also thanked all concerned for successfully operating this BSW for the interest of the country’s economy.

World Bank Division Director Jean Pesme said that over the last few months since its launching, the BSW has improved risk management and ensured transparency.

He also hoped that the Customs Department in Bangladesh would be paperless very soon.
 
The BSW portal was officially launched and partially rolled out on January 2, 2025. Initially, Go-Live operations began with 7 of the 19 Certificate, License, and Permit (CLP)-issuing agencies (DoE, DGDA, EPB, DoEX, BNACWC, BEPZA, and BEZA). Subsequently, the remaining 12 agencies (BAEC, BGMEA, BKMEA, BSTI, BTRC, CAAB, DLS, DoF, PQW, BAERA, BIDA, and CCIE) were also integrated into the BSW system and are now issuing CLPs online.

On July 2, 2025, through a circular issued by the NBR, use of the BSW system was made mandatory for all 19 agencies in issuing CLPs. Till date, a total of 578,491 CLPs have been issued online through BSW. Among these, 84% were processed within one hour of application submission, and 95% were processed within one day, most of them automatically.
    
Highlights of the Event: Celebrating Half a Million CLPs: 

The milestone of issuing over 500,000 Certificates, Licenses, and Permits (CLPs) through the BSW platform was celebrated. The effectiveness of the BSW system and its expected benefits for businesses and enterprises were also showcased. 

Additionally, stakeholders’ experience regarding CLP issuance was presented through video clips.

Seminar on Paperless Customs: A presentation was delivered on Paperless Customs as a roadmap for the future of customs in Bangladesh, with the aim of enhancing investment competitiveness and implementing Article 10.4 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). 
Implementation of Paperless Customs will significantly improve accountability and efficiency in import-export operations.

Conferring e-Return Champion Certificates to the Taxpayers:

The top 5 institutions submitting the highest number of online returns in the last tax year were awarded the “e-Return Champion” honor. These institutions are:

The Chief Guest, Special Guests, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, and other stakeholders emphasized the importance of digital transformation in achieving economic growth.

Speakers expressed gratitude to NBR for the successful implementation of the NSW project and pledged their commitment to further enhance the BSW and e-Return systems.

The National Board of Revenue extended its sincere appreciation to all partner organizations, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and esteemed taxpayers for their strong role in ensuring the success of these projects.

Secretaries from various ministries, heads and senior officials of departments/agencies, representatives of development partners, and senior executives from private sector organizations were also present.