NBR issues Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, introducing a dedicated regulatory framework for the first time to ensure greater competition, transparency and accountability in the issuance of shipping agent licences at the country's sea and river ports.

The new rules were promulgated through a gazette notification on 30 December 2025, aiming to modernise and streamline shipping agent-related operations linked to customs stations across Bangladesh.

Until now, there was no standalone set of regulations governing shipping agent licensing. Licences in this sector were previously issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, a framework that stakeholders long argued was not fully suited to the operational realities of shipping agents.

The NBR in a press release said that the introduction of a separate set of rules reflects the growing importance of shipping agents in facilitating trade and port operations.

According to the NBR, the new rules have been formulated to make licensing procedures more time-efficient and business-friendly, while aligning them with contemporary trade facilitation needs.

One of the key changes under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025 is the removal of the requirement for prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of shipping agent licences at a particular customs station.

Previously, customs stations had to seek clearance from the board before issuing licences, a process that often-caused delays.

With this requirement scrapped, the licensing authority at the relevant customs station will now be able to issue licences in significantly less time than before, the NBR said.

In another major departure from past practice, applicants will no longer be required to sit for written and viva voce examinations conducted by the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Instead, licences will be granted solely on the basis of verification and correctness of submitted documents.

The NBR said that, subject to proper documentation, licences must be issued within a maximum of 30 working days, a move expected to reduce procedural hurdles and compliance costs for applicants.

The new rules also address a long-standing limitation faced by shipping agents. Under the previous regime, a shipping agent licence was valid only for the sea or river port under the issuing customs station.

This meant that a licence obtained from one station could not be used to operate at another port governed by a different customs station.

Under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, this restriction has been lifted. A licence issued under the new framework will allow a shipping agent to conduct business activities at any sea or river port across Bangladesh, significantly expanding operational flexibility and reducing the need for multiple licences.

Trade experts say this change is likely to lower entry barriers, promote competition and support more efficient logistics services, particularly for importers and exporters operating through multiple ports.

The NBR said the introduction of the new rules is part of its broader effort to create an investment-friendly environment and simplify import and export procedures in line with global best practices.

By reducing administrative complexity and standardising licensing procedures, the board expects the new framework to contribute to smoother port operations and improved ease of doing business.

The NBR reiterated that its ongoing reform initiatives are aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, enhancing transparency and supporting Bangladesh's growing role in regional and global supply chains.