Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

National Board of Revenue

Rajashaw Bhaban, Segunbagicha

Dhaka - 1000

Modernizing the National Board of Revenue: An Exciting and Challenging Opportunity

The Government of Bangladesh is in the process of modernizing the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the revenue administration of the country, with the ongoing Modernization and Automation Project (MAP). The project is being implemented with assistance from the World Bank and primarily aims at reforming and reorganizing the structure of NBR, development of human resource management system, extensive use of ICT in revenue administration, reforms in customs, VAT, income tax, strengthening of the research and statistics wing, strengthening of training activities for revenue administration staff etc.

As a part of this Project, NBR is seeking to appoint experienced and dynamic professionals as consultants for the following positions on a contractual basis:

A. INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS

1. Customs Administration Expert – One position for 5 person-months

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Customs Administration Expert	5	1	INT-CUS-ADM

Tasks and Qualifications of Customs Administration Expert

Tasks:

a) Review the existing customs procedure and indicate their divergence with modern customs practices;

b) Establish a benchmark level of performance in areas like days taken in clearance of goods, payment of duty drawbacks, level of automation, accounting of warehoused goods, attitude towards work of officials, and people's perception of customs;

c) Design both short and medium term plan to align them to modern customs procedures;

d) Reduce the clearance time for import and forwarding time for export of goods;

e) Secure due government revenue and enforce import and export restrictions in a non-obtrusive manner;

f) Encourage exports through quick disbursement of duty drawbacks;

g) Suggest changes in existing legislation, rules, orders and forms;

h) Establish various goals with respect to various benchmark performance;

i) Implement selected other modernisation elements;

j) Design and implement streamlined procedures for clearing exports and imports;

k) Design improvement in Custom processes, organisation, law, staffing and technology;

l) Develop monitoring system for bonded warehouse;

m) Streamline the schemes operated by the DEDO to better serve the exporters;

n) Design the taxpayer education programme in co-operation with WCO;

o) Prepare manuals, train Customs officials and agents in modern customs procedure and establish close liaison with FBCCI/other trade bodies;

p) Perform such other function as assigned by Project Director.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university. Master’s degree in Management, Public Administration, or MBA will be preferred;

b) 8-10 years experience of working in a modern customs administration; of which at least five years work experience in a Customs-related organisation in policy formulation / strategic planning,

c) Excellent general knowledge  and proven track record of policy reform and strategic planning;

d) Well developed knowledge of principal international Customs conventions(e.g. HS, Kyoto, WTO/GATT Valuation Code);

e) Knowledge/experience of ASYCUDA automated system preferred,

f) Comprehensive knowledge of Customs laws, procedures, systems and processes,

g) Experience of implementing Customs Modernization program preferred,

h) Experience in fields of public finance, tax analysis and Information Technology preferred,

i) Excellent communication and presentation skills,

j) Some experience of working with the private sector preferred,

k) Experience as a trainer of custom officials preferred.

2. Customs Valuation Expert – One position for 4 person-months

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Customs Valuation Expert	4	1	INT-CUS-VAL

Tasks and Qualifications of Customs Valuation Expert

Tasks:

a) Assisting NBR and Commissioner (Customs Valuation) to establish a valuation database that includes accurate reference value of goods that constitute significant imports into Bangladesh;

b) Assisting to establish procedures that enable the database to be systematically kept up to date and to retain its usefulness as a tool for Customs field operations;

c) Assisting the Commissioner (Customs Valuation) to establish the valuation function at both NBR and in the field, including:

i. defining the role of the Valuation Directorate and implementing it;

ii. ensuring that import clearance staff are properly trained to value goods under WTO rules;

d) Training people in application of the valuation laws;

e) with CAM-1 developed IT software, ensuring that computerized sites have necessary access to the valuation system;

f) Assist NBR in developing simplified and modern Customs clearance procedures;

g) Assist NBR in developing simplified and modern techniques of risk assessment for Customs;

h) Assist NBR to ensure that Bangladesh complies with its international obligations entered into in the WTO Valuation Agreement, and in implementing the Valuation provisions of the Customs legislation.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university

b) 10-12 years experience of working in a modern customs administration of which at least 5 years experience in Customs valuation, assessment, clearance and risk management in managerial/ policy planning position;

c) Experience of working in international organization and/or developing countries, preferably in South Asian countries is preferred;

d) Experience of designing customs risk-based management system;

e) Experience of policy formulation and strategic planning in Customs;

f) Knowledge & experience of customs procedures, processes, systems;

g) Excellent communication & presentation skill;

h) Knowledge of national legislation and national enforcement agreements, and access to all information relating to them preferred;

i) Knowledge/experience of WCO, WTO valuation agreement is preferred;

j) Knowledge/experience of WCO’s risk-based management approach preferred;

k) Knowledge of ASYCUDA++, and its risk-based management features preferred;

l) Comprehensive knowledge of Customs laws, procedures, systems and processes;

m) Experience of implementing Customs modernization program preferred;

n) Some experience of working with the private sector preferred;

o) Experience as a trainer of custom officials preferred.

3. Policy Expert (Income Tax) – One position for 5 person-months

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Policy Expert (Income Tax)	5	1	INT-PO-IT

Tasks and Qualifications of Policy Expert (Income Tax)

Tasks:

a) Provide technical, policy, corporate planning and management support to the NBR to include advice on the practical application of proposed amendment to Income Tax legislation;

b) Examine and identify weaknesses in Income Tax system, procedure and management;

c) Advise and assist NBR to formulate and upgrade Income Tax law, rules, procedures in the areas of enforcement, audit, inspection, record keeping including other areas to simplify the system;

d) To advise on the organizational structure of the Income Tax wing, in particular to match resources to needs;

e) Suggest effective management of tax audit and enforcement and investigation procedure;

f) Identify the means to improve the co-ordination and exchange of information within the Income Tax wing and across the tax discipline specially Customs and VAT;

g) Perform such other functions as assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university. Master’s degree in Management, Public Administration, or MBA will be preferred;

b) 8-10 years work experience in any advanced and modern income tax department;

c) Experience of working in a developing country is highly desirable;

d) Experience of legal issues associated with the income tax implementation and enforcement would be preferred;

e) Should have experience of policy formulation and strategic planning;

f) Should have experience in fields of public finance, tax analysis and information technology;

g) Excellent communication & presentation skill.

4. Policy Expert (VAT) – One position for 5 person-months

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Policy Expert (VAT)	5	1	INT-PO-VAT

Tasks and Qualifications of Policy Expert (VAT)

Tasks:

a) Provide technical, policy, corporate planning and management support to the NBR to include advice on the practical application of proposed amendment to VAT legislation;

b) Examine and identify weaknesses in VAT system, procedure and management;

c) Advise and assist NBR to formulate and upgrade VAT law, rules, procedures in the areas of enforcement, audit, inspection, record keeping including other areas to simplify the system;

d) To advise on the organizational structure of the VAT wing, in particular to match resources to needs;

e) Suggest effective management of tax audit and enforcement and investigation procedure;

f) Identify the means to improve the co-ordination and exchange of information within the VAT wing and across the tax discipline specially Customs and VAT;

g) Develop guideline to assess input-output ratio for different types of VAT unit;

h) Perform such other functions as assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university. Master’s degree; preference will be given to commerce graduates;

b) 8-10 years work experience in any advanced and modern VAT department;

c) Experience of working in a developing country is highly desirable;

d) Experience of legal issues associated with the VAT implementation and enforcement would be preferred;

e) Should have experience of policy formulation and strategic planning;

f) Should have experience in fields of public finance, tax analysis and information technology;

g) Excellent communication & presentation skill.

5. Consultant (R&S) – One position for 5 person-months

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Consultant (R&S)	5	1	INT-CON-RS

Tasks and Qualifications of Consultant (R&S)

Tasks:

a) Provide research support in organizing and analyzing current and historical data on direct and indirect taxes;

b) Provide computational assistance to the R&S wing of NBR for formulation of revenue macro-economic model and assist in report generation;

c) Assess the data needs of policy planners at NBR, design and implement at appropriate Management Information System (MIS) at NBR,

d) Perform other functions as assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university. Master’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or MBA will be preferred;;

b) Should have experience in fields of public finance, tax analysis and information technology;

c) Excellent communication & presentation skill;

d) Experience in working with PC required;

e) Comprehensive knowledge of direct and indirect taxes;

B. LOCAL CONSULTANTS

1. Modernization Coordinator– One position for 12 person-months (can be extended to 18 person-months)

LOCAL CONSULTANT	MAN / MONTH	NO. OF CONSULTANT	CODE
Modernization Coordinator	12 (can be extended to 18)	1	LOC-MC

Tasks and Qualifications of Modernization Coordinator

Tasks:

a) Manage, co-ordinate and provide support to different activities and other sub-components;

b) Manage and guide the implementation of the Modernization Programme;

c) Supervise documentation and publication;

d) Supervise education programs for taxpayers and NBR officials;

e) Regularly report progress to & liaise with NBR;

f) Assist Team Manager in managing day-to-day work of the project;

g) Supervise implementation of the project;

h) Co-ordinate among different sub-components of the project and monitor progress;

i) Assist in co-coordinating and organizing training programme;

j) Will require extensive traveling within Bangladesh;

k) Perform such other functions as assigned by the Project Director.

Qualifications:

a) Graduation degree from any recognized university. Master’s degree in Management, Public Administration or MBA will be preferred;

b) 8-10 years work experience in revenue administration;

c) Work experience in policy formulation is preferred;

d) Experience as team member of revenue administration reforms initiatives will be preferred;

e) Previous experience of project implementation, particularly on modernization /computerization, will be preferred;

f) Knowledge of risk-based management and audit preferred;

g)