Dhaka, July 11 (V7N) – Despite Friday being a weekend, import-export activities continued across all major custom houses in the country, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Benapole, Mongla, Kamalapur ICD, and Pangaon.

According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), these customs houses will also remain open on Saturday (July 12) to ensure uninterrupted trade operations.

The decision comes amid persistent technical issues with the ASYCUDA World System, which is used for managing customs data. This system slowdown has affected the clearance of foreign trade goods for several days.

Service recipients reported delays and inconvenience, particularly due to server complications. Additionally, official presence at Chattogram Custom House was noted to be slightly lower than usual, further impacting operational efficiency.

In response to the situation, the NBR issued a directive on Thursday instructing all customs offices to remain open throughout the weekend. This is not the first time such action has been taken; in June, a similar directive was issued on the second Saturday, when revenue collection was being disrupted due to internal protests within the NBR.

However, as the agitation resurfaced, a section of customs workers reportedly resumed their 'complete shutdown' program on a Saturday, further complicating the trade flow.

Authorities hope the extended service hours will help ease the backlog and keep the country’s vital foreign trade operations running smoothly.

END/RH/AJ