A major overhaul of customs administration in Chattogram has come into effect, with the newly established Customs House ICD assuming responsibility for export cargo, private inland container depot (ICD) imports and airport consignments.

The specialised commissionerate began full-scale operations on 1 August. It now handles customs assessment for all export consignments shipped through private off-docks and Chattogram Port, imports of 65 categories of goods processed through ICDs, and all import and export cargo passing through Shah Amanat International Airport.

Officials say the move will speed up cargo clearance by easing pressure on the country's busiest customs station. Exporters, however, remain sceptical that the new arrangement will streamline trade, citing administrative friction over new office codes and persistent labor shortages.

The restructuring shifts a significant share of customs assessment work away from the century-old Chattogram Custom House, allowing it to focus on seaport imports while the new commissionerate specialises in export and off-dock operations.

"Previously, all the activities were handled by one customs house. Now export, ICD imports and airport cargo are under a dedicated commissionerate, which should make processing faster and more efficient," Chattogram Custom House spokesperson Sharif Al Amin told TBS.

The National Board of Revenue established Customs House ICD on 18 January this year as part of its customs modernisation programme. Abul Basar Md Shafiqur Rahman was appointed its first commissioner on 30 December 2025.

The new system

Under the new arrangement, importers bringing designated goods through private off-docks must submit bills of entry using office code 306 instead of the previous code 301 used by Chattogram Custom House.

The new commissionerate is also solely responsible for customs assessment of export consignments shipped through Chattogram Port via private ICDs.

Officials said the cargo release process at the port remains unchanged. After assessment by Customs House ICD, release documents are processed through the new commissionerate, while scanning, gate verification and physical inspections continue under existing procedures.

Separate assistant revenue officers have also been assigned to conduct mandatory physical examinations and container unstuffing where required.

Staff shortages cloud expectations

Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, former vice-president of BGMEA, said export processing would have been more effective under the Bond Commissionerate.

"There was no necessity for creating a separate commissionerate for ICDs," he said. "RMG exporters import raw materials under the bond system. If exports were processed by the same authority, accountability would improve because imports and exports could be matched more easily. I think the new commissionerate will complicate things."

Meanwhile, the commissionerate has begun operations with only 135 officials against an approved workforce of 664. Around 60 officers have been temporarily transferred from Chattogram Custom House to keep the new office functioning.

The shortage is most acute among assistant revenue officers (AROs), who carry out customs assessment and clearance.

Mohammad Mahbub Hasan, additional commissioner of Chattogram Customs House ICD, said only 35 AROs are currently available.

"About 20 AROs have to be stationed at Shah Amanat International Airport in three shifts to handle air cargo. That leaves very limited manpower to assess export cargo and imports handled through the off-docks," he said.

Mahbub said consultations with stakeholders had resolved most initial operational issues before full implementation. He acknowledged that staffing remained the biggest obstacle to achieving faster customs assessment and cargo clearance.

The transition has also created temporary difficulties, with some traders continuing to submit declarations using the previous office code 301. Mahbub said an automated system was being introduced to convert declarations submitted under the old code to the new one.

Business representatives welcomed the creation of a dedicated commissionerate but said its success would depend on filling vacant posts.

Obaidul Hoque Alamgir, joint secretary of the Chattogram Customs Agents Association, said separating export and ICD operations should reduce pressure on Chattogram Custom House.

"The objective of establishing a separate commissionerate is positive because it will distribute the workload and make customs assessment and cargo clearance faster. However, unless the approved manpower is posted quickly, the commissionerate may struggle to deliver the expected improvements," he said.