DHAKA, Jan 02, 2026 (BSS) - In a significant move to streamline maritime trade and enhance transparency, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the 'Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025'.

This new set of regulations, promulgated through a notification on Tuesday, aims to ensure accountability and fair competition across all sea and river ports in the country, said a press release.

Prior to this development, there were no independent regulations for this sector; shipping agent licenses were previously governed under the "Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020". 

The NBR stated that the creation of these specialized rules is intended to modernize and simplify shipping agent operations.

Under the new framework, the licensing process has been significantly accelerated. Authorities are no longer required to obtain prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of licenses issued per customs station. This change allows licensing authorities to grant permits in a much shorter timeframe.

Furthermore, the requirement for applicants to sit for written and oral examinations at the Customs Excise and VAT Training Academy has been abolished. 

Provided that all submitted documentations are accurate, the NBR has committed to issuing licenses within a maximum of 30 working days.

A major highlight of the 2025 rules is the expanded jurisdiction of the licenses. Previously, a shipping agent license was restricted only to the specific sea or river port under the issuing customs station. 

The new regulations permit a license holder to conduct business at any sea or river port throughout the country, removing previous geographical barriers to trade.

The NBR emphasized that these reforms are part of its ongoing efforts to create an investment-friendly environment and to facilitate easier import-export activities for the nation.