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Local firm shows feat in automation

Jasim Uddin Khan
When donor-funded projects failed to fully complete automation of Chittagong Customs House by spending over Tk 247 crore and working for around 10 years, a local company successfully did the task in eight months at a minimal cost.
Software firm DataSoft Systems Bangladesh Ltd completed the automation project at an initial cost of Tk 2 crore with domestic expertise.
“We were able to make the project run at a reduced cost mainly because it will function on build-own-operate-transfer basis, and it is a successful example of public-private partnership where all stakeholders are involved directly," Mahbub Zaman, managing director of DataSoft, told The Daily Star recently.
One of the reasons behind the failure of the earlier projects is that their technology was not transferred to the locals properly, he added.
Earlier in 1999, a project titled CAM-1 (customs administration modernisation project-1) was the first step for automation.
Later in June 2001 another project titled 'ASYCUDA+ + Migration Project' was designed to interface the ASYCUDA++ software with the computer system at five customs houses in the country.
Bangladesh introduced ASYCUDA ++ (Automated SYstem for CUstoms DAta) of UNCTAD in line with the recommendations of the World Customs Organisation to simplify customs procedures.
But the implementation of the project to introduce automation at Kamalapur Inland Container Depot and the four
customs houses in Dhaka, Chittagong, Benapole and Mongla failed as the interfacing could not be done due to lack of infrastructure here and technical know-how of the local users.
Muhammad Abdul Mazid, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), reasoned out the failure of the project.
Local stakeholders did not own up to the past project, as there was no adequate expertise to run it -- a common problem, which hindered its implementation, said the NBR chairman.
In the past, most projects conducted with foreign grants experienced an unusual delay in implementation due to problems with transfer of ownership, Mazid said, adding that the same thing happened with the Chittagong Customs House automation project.The NBR is now looking into how Tk 247 crore was spent on the project.
The main feature of the new automation project is that DataSoft has employed around 45 engineers in the project to troubleshoot any problem the stakeholders may face.
"It's a post-implementation maintenance work, which was missing in the previous project," Mahbub Zaman said.
DataSoft has installed a call centre at the project site to receive any of complaint from customers, and engineers are working round the clock to solve the problems.
Apart from European com-panies, DataSofts's Management Information System is being used by Rajuk, and Credit Bureau Database by Pa 11 i Karma-Sahayak Foundation.
Starting operation in 1994, the company now offers software design and development solutions to many US and European firms.
jasim@thedailyslar.net