We are gratified to note the government's announcement that it is moving ahead with a plan to automate the operations of the Dhaka Custom House (DCH) and that this is merely the first step in an ambitious plan to computerise the entire governmental apparatus during this government's five-year tenure.
There can be no doubt that automating the customs systems is long overdue and will have myriad benefits to importers and exporters, which one hopes will ultimately be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices.
It has been stated that the automation will cut customs formalities to a mere five steps, down from the 42 steps that are necessary now. The benefit in terms of reduced time and hassle of doing business can only be imagined.
This, together with other savings associated with streamlining the process, will cut the cost of doing business dramatically, hopefully reducing the costs of imports and allowing our exporters to be more competitive in the international market.
In addition, automation will play a significant role in cutting down on unlawful activities such as under-invoicing and other measures taken to evade duties and tariffs, and will be key to the NBR collecting the appropriate amount of revenue from the trade sector. This benefit to the economy should not be underestimated.
The government's commitment to e-governance is as commendable as it is crucial. As the DCH project should demonstrate, computerisation will have great benefits in terms of good governance, helping to bring transparency and accountability to the system, as well as efficiency and effectiveness. We hope that this project can serve as a template for the government's e-governance pledge.
Just as e-governance will ensure efficient service delivery to all manner of people in the country, it might be seen as a threat by those who benefit from the corruption and inefficiency that the current system allows. So we should be under no illusions as to any covert opposition that this initiative might face, and the government needs to stand strong to see it through.
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Quelle/Source: The Daily Star, 26.05.2009
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