A government plan to phase out Bangladesh’s long-running customs digital platform, Asycuda, in favour of a new, locally developed system has sparked widespread concern among customs officials, economists and businesses, who warn that such a shift could disrupt trade and revenue flows.

Officials at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) confirmed that Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, who oversees the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, has instructed the NBR to explore alternatives to Asycuda in an effort to reduce dependence on external vendors or licensed software.

The directive followed a temporary slowdown in Asycuda operations in July 2025, shortly after the passage of the national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Customs authorities said the slowdown occurred during system updates to reflect the new tax and duty rates outlined in the Finance Ordinance 2025.

Developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1993, Asycuda serves as Bangladesh’s central customs data hub, linked with the Bangladesh Bank, Export Promotion Bureau, and other public and private agencies. It has since evolved through several upgrades, including Asycuda++ and the latest Asycuda World version introduced in 2021.

Customs officials warned that replacing the system without a fully tested alternative could cause severe disruptions to import and export operations, jeopardising a major source of government revenue still heavily dependent on customs duties.