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Published : 02 Jan 2026, 06:19 PM
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has withdrawn the requirement for written and oral examinations for shipping agent licences linked to customs stations at sea ports and inland river ports across Bangladesh.
Under the new system, licences will be issued solely on the basis of submitted documents, according to fresh regulations introduced by the revenue authority.
The “Shipping Agent Licensing Rules 2025” were issued on Dec 30. The NBR later published the regulations on its website, with the information shared through a media statement on Friday.
The NBR said the rules aim to ensure competition, transparency, and accountability in issuing licences.
Earlier, no separate framework existed, and licences were issued under the “Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020”.
The new regulations are designed to make shipping agent operations “simpler and more practical”.
Key changes include:
• Approval from the NBR is no longer required to determine the number of shipping agent licences at individual customs stations, allowing faster issuance.
• Applicants no longer need to sit written or oral exams at the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Licences will be granted on the basis of submitted documents within 30 working days.
• Licences previously issued were valid only for the port linked to the issuing customs station, preventing operations at other ports. Under the new rules, licences will be valid for business at any sea or inland port across Bangladesh.
