Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has warned that strict disciplinary measures will be taken against any officials or employees at Chattogram Port found guilty of harassing importers.
The assurance came during a session of the National Parliament on Tuesday when the minister responded to a question raised by MP Md Abdullah regarding allegations of misconduct by customs personnel at the country’s main seaport.
In his question, the lawmaker claimed that some customs officials and employees subject importers to unnecessary difficulties by ordering repeated inspections of imported goods, even after shipments have already undergone full examination procedures.
Addressing the issue, Khosru said the government is taking steps to reduce opportunities for such practices through greater automation and risk-based customs management.
He informed Parliament that a dedicated Customs Risk Management Commissionerate has already been established and is expected to begin operations from July in the upcoming fiscal year. The initiative aims to improve transparency and efficiency in customs clearance processes.
According to the minister, the new system will allow cargo selected for inspection to be identified automatically using risk assessment criteria, significantly reducing the need for human intervention in the process.
He also noted that the Risk Management Module of the ASYCUDA World system has recently been upgraded to make customs risk management more effective and technologically advanced.
The finance minister emphasised that the government remains committed to ensuring a business-friendly environment and protecting legitimate importers from unnecessary harassment.
Khosru further stated that any complaints of irregularities, abuse of authority or harassment by customs officials would be thoroughly investigated. If allegations are substantiated, the officials concerned will face departmental action under existing laws and regulations.
The remarks come amid growing calls from the business community for greater transparency, efficiency and accountability in customs operations at Chattogram Port, the country's principal gateway for international trade.
