National Single Window processing 95% of trade-related licences, permits within a day: NBR
According to NBR, since January 2025, the NSW platform has issued a total of 578,491 certificates, licences, and permits (CLPs)
Highlights:
- 95% of CLP applications processed in a day, 84% within an hour
- 5.78 lakh CLPs issued since January 2025
- NSW expanded from 7 to 19 agencies
- Paperless customs to boost transparency and efficiency
- Sonali Bank, BATB, BRAC, Buro, and Renata awarded as e-Return Champions
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has said that the National Single Window (NSW) – a digital platform launched early this year and operated by the Board – has significantly accelerated trade-related services, with 95% of online applications for certificates, licences, and permits (CLPs) processed within a single day. Of these, 84% were issued in just one hour.
The revenue authority made the announcement at a seminar titled "Celebrating Half a Million CLPs & Seminar on Paperless Customs & Conferring e-Return Champion Certificate to the Taxpayers", held at Le Méridien in the capital yesterday, according to an NBR press release.
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Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed attended the programme as the chief guest, with special guests including Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, Chief Adviser's International Affairs Envoy Lutfe Siddiqi, and Special Assistant Anisuzzaman Chowdhury. The event was presided over by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan.
According to NBR, since January 2025, the NSW platform has issued a total of 578,491 certificates, licences, and permits (CLPs). Initially launched with seven agencies, the service now covers 19 agencies, including the Department of Environment (DOE), Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Bangladesh
Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Department of Fisheries (DoF), Private Quality Warehouses (PQW), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Officials at the event said that the introduction of paperless customs will further enhance transparency and efficiency in export-import operations. The initiative is being implemented under Article 10.4 of the World Trade Organisation's Trade Facilitation Agreement.
The event also featured the "e-Return Champion" awards, recognising five institutions for submitting the highest number of online tax returns: Sonali Bank PLC, British American Tobacco Bangladesh, BRAC, Buro Bangladesh, and Renata PLC.
Speakers highlighted that NSW and the e-Return system are not only improving the ease of doing business and creating an investment-friendly environment but are also motivating taxpayers to comply more actively. The digital system has already reduced time, costs, and paperwork for businesses.
Representatives from both public and private sectors pledged to work together to further strengthen the NSW and e-Return systems in the future.
