NBR Expands Online Usage Permits as Bond System Gains Ground

The National Board of Revenue has issued close to 25,000 usage permits through its online system in just over two months, signalling a steady shift in how bonded warehouse services are being handled across the country.

According to an official statement, 24,963 permits were processed between January 1 and March 16 this year under a newly mandatory digital platform. The system, known as the Customs Bond Management System, was introduced at the start of 2025 but only became compulsory from the beginning of 2026.

For industries operating under bonded warehouse facilities, the change has been immediate. Usage permits, once dependent on physical visits and paperwork, are now being issued through the three Customs Bond Commissionerates entirely online. The permits allow duty-free use of imported raw materials, a critical component for export-oriented manufacturing.

Officials say the software has been linked with the systems of Bangladesh Bank, enabling digital verification of import and export documents. This integration appears to have removed one of the more time-consuming steps in the approval process, particularly for firms dealing with high volumes of shipments.

The revenue authority notes that industries no longer need to visit commissionerate offices to access services tied to bonded facilities. That shift, while administrative on the surface, has reduced both processing time and associated costs for businesses, according to the statement.

The rollout has involved coordination beyond the tax authority itself. The system is being aligned with institutions including the Directorate of Customs Rebates and Drawbacks, as well as trade bodies such as BGMEA and BKMEA, which represent key segments of the country’s export sector.

Officials describe the early figures as an indication that the transition is holding. While the numbers reflect system uptake rather than broader trade performance, the NBR maintains that quicker processing is helping keep export operations moving without delays tied to documentation.

The move is part of a wider effort to bring bond management under a fully automated structure. Authorities say additional services, including bond audits, will gradually be integrated into the same digital framework.

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For now, the emphasis remains on stabilising the system and ensuring that industries accustomed to manual processes continue to adapt without disruption. The early months suggest a system still settling in, but one that is already reshaping how routine approvals are handled.