This report is focused on Time Release Study (TRS) at the Benapole land port, Chattogram seaport, and Dhaka airport. In line with the globally accepted methodology developed by the World Customs Organization, this study reviews import clearance processes and measures the actual time required for the release of goods across four commodity groups: food items, pharmaceuticals raw materials, garments raw materials, and capital machineries.
This study finds that pre-arrival processing of import documents and automation in payment processing have increased efficiency in the overall clearance process. However, many importers are yet to take full advantage of these systems. This study observes several areas for improvement. For example, a major share (72%–78%) of the clearance time is spent on collecting and submitting import documents, implying the urgent need for automation in the pre-Customs declaration stage.
View the full report here.
