Dhaka, June 14 -- The average clearance time for food and agricultural imports in Bangladesh could be slashed by up to 80 per cent through targeted risk-management reforms, a new study has found.

It said that quick release of such products would not only reduce port congestion but also ease prices for consumers in the domestic market.

Currently, agro-based containers are subject to 100 per cent customs inspection as per the Import Policy Order, regardless of the type, nature, or risk profile of the products.

The study, titled "Quantifying the Benefits of Risk-Based Clearance for Imported Food and Agriculture Products in Bangladesh", was conducted under the USDA-funded Bangladesh Trade Facilitation (BTF) project and released recently. ...