The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has set nine parameters for selecting the persons eligible for the World Customs Organization (WCO) certificate of merit.
The certificate of merit will be awarded to customs officials and other stakeholders and the parameters were outlined in the draft 'WCO Certificate of Merit Policy-2021'.
The customs and VAT wing has circulated the draft of the policy to all the customs and VAT offices across the country recently and sought their opinion by June 30.
According to the draft policy, a committee of NBR would select the customs officials and public or private entities on the basis of their contribution to trade facilitation, innovation, simplification of services, support for automation, reform activities, modernisation, outstanding performance in curbing money laundering and smuggling and as per other WCO guidelines.
According to the draft policy, 17 customs officials and three public or private firms would be awarded the certificates of merit. It will be an annual event marking the International Customs Day that falls on January 26.
The selection committee would invite applications 60 days before the International Customs Day.
The draft policy has set the eligibility criteria for the award.
The private and public sector entities which have revenue arrears against import, export or other activities would not be considered for the award.
Customs and VAT officials who have departmental cases or any corruption and criminal cases against them would also not be eligible for the award.
To be eligible for the award, customs and VAT officials from both cadre and non-cadre service will have to work for at least two years.
The selected officials will receive a certificate signed by the WCO Secretary General, Tk 50,000 from the Bangladesh Customs and a crest. However, other stakeholders will not receive any money.
In the draft policy, the NBR attached a prescribed form for application where aspirants would have to furnish details of their contribution, educational qualifications and other personal details.
The NBR would issue a gazette notification with the names of award winners after the final selection.
