The National Revenue Board (NBR) has revealed the staggering scale of illicit trade intercepted at the nation’s borders throughout 2025. In a high-profile seminar held in Dhaka to mark International Customs Day, officials announced the seizure of 12,774 bhori of gold, carrying a formidable market value of 163.73 crore BDT. The disclosure highlights a year of intensive enforcement as authorities struggle to balance rigorous security with the need for streamlined international trade.
Table of Contents
The Scale of Illicit Inflow
Beyond the haul of precious metals, NBR Member Mubinul Kabir detailed a wide array of intercepted contraband. The 2025 figures represent a significant blow to smuggling syndicates, with customs officials recovering illegal foreign currency totalling nearly 150 crore BDT. The crackdown also extended to excisable luxury goods, resulting in the confiscation of over 15,000 litres of foreign liquor and nearly a quarter of a million cartons of cigarettes.
Contraband Seizure Analytics: 2025 Retrospective
| Asset Category | Quantity Intercepted | Market Valuation (BDT) |
| Gold Bullion/Jewellery | 12,774 Bhori | 163.73 Crore |
| Foreign Currency | Various | 149.65 Crore |
| Foreign Cigarettes | 243,095 Cartons | High Revenue Loss |
| Foreign Alcohol | 15,246 Litres | Significant Levy Value |
Balancing Protection and Progress
The seminar, presided over by NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, became a focal point for debating the future of Bangladesh’s trade policy. Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of the Policy Research Institute (PRI), voiced concerns regarding the nation’s “complex and high” tariff structures. He cautioned that if Bangladesh does not liberalise its trade policies within the next three to five years, it may find itself at a competitive disadvantage globally.
Chairman Khan acknowledged these concerns but pointed to the persistent issue of misdeclaration by importers. He cited instances where contraband was hidden behind legitimate labels—such as cigarettes declared as raw cotton—forcing customs to maintain high inspection rates that inevitably slow down port clearance.
The Path to Modernisation
As Bangladesh approaches its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the pressure to simplify trade is mounting. Mahbubur Rahman, the Commerce Secretary, noted that major trading partners like the European Union, Japan, and Australia are increasingly demanding more transparent and efficient customs processes.
A central component of this modernisation is the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme. To incentivise compliance, the NBR awarded AEO certificates to nine companies during the event, granting them “fast-track” privileges at ports. However, officials noted that for the scheme to be truly effective, the number of certified firms must grow from a mere handful to several hundred, a shift that requires urgent regulatory simplification.