Chattogram Customs House to move into World Trade Center under new lease deal

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Customs House, Chattogram, on Monday signed a lease agreement for office space at the World Trade Center, marking a notable shift in the city's administrative and commercial setup.

Under the agreement, Customs House will occupy 156,600 square feet of office space along with 8,000 square feet of garage facilities at the CCCI-owned World Trade Center. The deal was signed at the building's conference hall, according to a press release.

CCCI administrator and Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Mohammad Motahar Hossain signed on behalf of the chamber, while Customs Commissioner Mohammad Shafi Uddin signed for the customs authority.

Officials said Customs House will begin operations at the World Trade Center on 1 July and continue there until a dedicated new building – planned with World Bank financing – is completed.

Speaking at the ceremony, Motahar Hossain said the World Trade Center is set to become a major hub for trade and business activity in the port city as key institutions relocate there.

Former CCCI president and Honorary Consul of Thailand Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, Customs, Excise and VAT Commissioner Sheikh Abu Faisal Md Murad, and leaders of the C&F Agents Association also attended the programme.

Located in Agrabad, Chattogram's commercial hub, the World Trade Center is Bangladesh's only facility affiliated with the New York-based World Trade Centers Association. The 24-storey building spans nearly 700,000 square feet and features modern infrastructure, including high-speed lifts, basement parking, a rooftop helipad, conference facilities, central air conditioning, and integrated security and power systems.

Additional amenities, including a rooftop restaurant, convention spaces, and club and lounge facilities, are under development, CCCI officials said.