In a move toward greater convenience and digital transformation, Bangladesh has rolled out a new system allowing importers and exporters to pay customs duties and taxes directly online using mobile financial services (MFS) like bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, Mcash, and TrustPay, as well as debit and credit cards.
The new system, known as e-Challan (automated challan), enables individuals and businesses to deposit customs-related payments into the government treasury from the comfort of their homes.
The initiative has been jointly launched by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance and the National Board of Revenue (NBR), according to an official press release from NBR.
Anyone involved in international trade — including importers, exporters, and C&F agents — can now pay customs duties and taxes using any internet-connected device.
Once payment is made through the online portal using MFS or bank cards, the system immediately generates a receipt number. This can be presented at customs points to release goods without delay.
This e-payment system significantly reduces the time required to process payments. Under the previous system, tax payments made via RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement) often took several days to be reflected in the government treasury, slowing down both revenue inflow and goods release.
Now, payments are credited instantly, ensuring faster customs clearance and immediate availability of funds for government use.
The pilot phase of the system began in April at the Kamalapur ICD Customs House, followed by its implementation at Pangaon Customs House.
Last Thursday, it went live at Chattogram Customs House, the country`s busiest port. From Monday, the e-Challan system will be active in all customs houses, including Dhaka Customs House.
The National Board of Revenue emphasized that this is part of a broader digital initiative to modernize Bangladesh’s revenue collection infrastructure and reduce dependence on manual processes.
For traders and businesses, it’s a game changer — saving time, increasing transparency, and making customs payments as easy as paying a utility bill on your phone.
