DHAKA, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agent Licensing Rules, 2026 with a view to enhancing service quality for importers and exporters in a competitive environment.

The new rules were promulgated through a gazette notification (SRO No. 04-Law/2026/Customs) on January 8, 2026, repealing the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, in line with the provisions of the Customs Act, 2023, an NBR press release said today.

Earlier, there was no separate and dedicated set of rules for issuing C&F agent licences. Licences were previously issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020. 

To modernise and streamline the operations of customs clearing and forwarding agents, the NBR has now formulated an independent and updated regulatory framework under the C&F Agent Licensing Rules, 2026.

According to the new rules, prior approval from the NBR will no longer be required to determine the number of C&F agent licences for individual customs stations. All candidates who qualify and pass the prescribed examination will be eligible to obtain licences.

The licensing process will be conducted through regular examinations and completed within a fixed timeframe each year to ensure transparency and efficiency.

In another major reform, the NBR said that licences issued in favour of C&F agents at land customs stations declared closed will no longer be automatically cancelled. Instead, licence holders will be allowed to conduct clearing and forwarding activities at any other operational customs station through jurisdictional inclusion.

The NBR believes that the new rules will significantly contribute to improving service delivery, ensuring ease of business and facilitating smoother trade operations across the country.