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Dhaka, July 5 — The National Board of Revenue (NBR), in partnership with the Finance Division, has launched its a-Challan platform, allowing importers, exporters and C&F agents to settle customs duties and taxes online—directly into the government treasury—using mobile financial services (MFS) and traditional banking channels.

Key Features

• Real-time integration between NBR’s ASYCUDA World and the Finance Ministry’s IBAS++
• 24/7 online payments from anywhere via:
  • Internet banking, debit/credit cards
  • MFS wallets (bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, mCash, TrustPay)
• Over-the-counter payment at 11,700 branches of 61 banks (account debit or cheque clearing)
• Instant credit to treasury, eliminating multi-day RTGS delays
• System-generated receipt number for immediate cargo clearance

Pilot and Roll-Out

• April–May: Trial runs at Kamalapur ICD and Pangaon Customs House
• July 1–2: Training at Chattogram Customs House for agents and customs staff
• July 3: Go-live at Chattogram—75 bills of entry generated over Tk 13 crore in immediate revenue
• July 7 onward: Nationwide launch, including Dhaka Customs House

Expected Benefits

• Enhanced transparency and fiscal discipline through automated reconciliation
• Faster release of goods, reducing demurrage and storage costs
• Streamlined revenue collection, boosting government cash flow

NBR expects the a-Challan system to modernise Bangladesh’s customs payments, improve compliance and bring greater efficiency to both traders and the treasury.