In response to escalating demands to sustain the nation’s export performance in the lead-up to Eid-ul-Azha, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a comprehensive directive instructing all customs houses and customs stations throughout Bangladesh to remain fully operational during the upcoming sequence of public and weekly holidays spanning from June 5 to June 14. This directive explicitly excludes only the day of Eid itself from the operational mandate. The initiative is aimed at preventing any potential bottlenecks or interruptions in trade and export activities during this critical period, as uninterrupted customs operations are deemed essential for facilitating timely shipment processing, ensuring logistical continuity, and upholding the country’s commitments to international trade partners.
The decision follows a formal request from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which stressed the importance of continuous trade facilitation to maintain the momentum of export orders during the festive season.
In a letter addressed to the NBR chairman on May 14, BGMEA Administrator Md Anwar Hossain underscored the time-sensitive nature of garment exports. He cautioned that any disruption during the holiday period could lead to shipment delays, cancellation of orders, and significant financial losses, not only for exporters but also for the broader economy through lost foreign exchange earnings.
The BGMEA’s letter also called for seamless cooperation from other key stakeholders, including ports, commercial banks, and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), to ensure that exporters can meet international delivery commitments on time.
“The garment industry is under considerable pressure from multiple fronts,” the letter noted. “US counter-tariffs, labour unrest, increased raw material costs, high interest rates, an energy crisis, and surging transportation expenses are severely impacting operations. In such a scenario, uninterrupted support from all relevant government institutions is essential to keep exports on track.”
In response, the NBR issued an official directive to keep all major customs houses — including the Chittagong Custom House, which handles the majority of the country’s exports — operational throughout the designated holiday period. The directive mandates that adequate staffing and logistics support be ensured to maintain smooth customs operations.
Industry insiders welcomed the move, describing it as a timely and necessary step to protect the RMG sector during a critical export window. “Eid-ul-Azha often coincides with tight shipping deadlines for summer and fall collections abroad,” said a senior BGMEA official. “Having customs operations open during this period ensures that goods can be cleared and shipped without delay.”
The ready-made garment industry is the largest export earner for Bangladesh, contributing over 80 percent of the country’s total export revenue and employing more than four million workers, most of whom are women. Maintaining steady export flows is not only crucial for individual businesses but also for macroeconomic stability, particularly in the face of foreign currency shortages and rising inflation.
Government officials say the special customs operation will also benefit other export sectors and importers dealing with perishable or time-sensitive goods.
“This is part of our broader effort to support the economy during the Eid holidays,” said a senior NBR official. “We understand the importance of timely exports and have taken steps to ensure there is no disruption.”
As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, all eyes will be on how effectively these measures are implemented — and whether they help exporters weather the ongoing challenges while fulfilling their international obligations.
