The proposed 'Business Facilitation Fund' at Chittagong Port yesterday brought out a debate among the business community.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) signed an agreement, on June 30, which stipulated setting aside a percentage of fees on all bills to fund round-the-clock operations at the Chittagong Customs House (CCH).

The proposed fee might be fixed at 1 percent to 1.5 percent on a total bill of entry.

The discussion took off at the Federation Bhaban where the FBCCI arranged a meeting yesterday regarding the proposed arrangement.

MA Siddiqui, a chemical

importer from Dhaka, found it surprising that the country's premier port did not run round-the-clock.

“Paying extra to the CCH staff to work beyond office hours will create problems in port operation,” he said, adding that other government units involved in international trade too will demand additional payment.

Manzur Ahmed, an adviser to the FBCCI, said a thorough assessment was needed on whether raising funds of such scale was feasible or not.

“We should do a cost-benefit analysis so that the businessmen benefit from the initiative,” he said.

A deputy secretary to the shipping ministry raised the legality of raising funds from businessmen to pay off the public servants.

“Such initiative will create internal and external divisions among the government officials.”

Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the move will compound the already escalating costs for businesses.

Mohammad Hatem, vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said as a service-oriented organisation dedicated to international trade, the Chittagong Port should deliver uninterrupted service.

“We receive round-the-clock service from the airport but we do not have to pay extra for availing the airport outside of the general office hours,” Hatem added.

While presenting the keynote paper on the subject, Matiur

Rahman, the additional commissioner of the CCH, said the officials would be motivated to work outside of the office hours if there is an incentive in the form of extra pay for them.

“It will cost around Tk 75,000 to keep the CCH operational on Saturday, which is a public holiday in Bangladesh,” he said.

“However, the programme will be launched on a trial basis. If it yields favourable results the programme will be regularised,” added Rahman.

FBCCI President AK Azad said recently a group of young entrepreneurs in Bangladesh asked the United Nations Development Programme to launch such service for the sake of reducing businesses' costs and shortening the freight management time.

“We plan to start the programme from September 1 of

this year,” Azad said, adding that the programme will be operated from 9am to 5pm.

“We will hold another meeting with the businessmen to submit our final proposal to the NBR soon,” he added.

NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed, however, said there is a possibility of receiving the overtime service under the existing customs act.

Currently the CCH is running low in manpower as there has been a recruitment freeze for several years over a legal dispute in the court.

“The dispute has now been resolved, and the problem, too, will be over soon if the public service commission can recruit new staff by December," he added.