The first meeting of the Working Group formed to promote automation of operations at Chattogram Port and Customs, expedite cargo clearance, and reduce time and costs was held on 5 October 2026, at the conference room of Chattogram Customs House.

The meeting was chaired by A. A. M. Amimul Ehsan Khan, Additional Commissioner of Customs and Convener of the Working Group. BGMEA Director Md. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Director-in-Charge of the Standing Committee on Customs Sea and Customs Bond Affairs, and former BGMEA Director and Advisor to the Port and Shipping Committee A. M. Mahbub Chowdhury attended the meeting as representatives of BGMEA. 

The meeting discussed bringing manual procedures under automation, introducing a system to notify importers or their designated C&F agents of container locations immediately after containers are discharged from vessels, reducing time and costs, and simplifying customs procedures.

BGMEA Director Md. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury said that discussions should be agenda-based to make the automation process more effective. He emphasized the need to establish a system through the port’s designated operating system to immediately provide importers or their designated C&F agents with container locations and relevant information upon discharge from vessels.

He said manual procedures should be brought under automation as soon as possible to reduce time and costs, eliminate bureaucratic complexities, and simplify customs procedures. This would help make import-export activities more efficient and dynamic. He also called upon all relevant stakeholders to play a positive and coordinated role in this regard.

Former BGMEA Director and Advisor to the Port and Shipping Committee A. M. Mahbub Chowdhury thanked all participants and said that reducing time and costs in import-export activities was the key objective of the meeting. He noted that effective implementation of these measures would help resolve many existing complexities and challenges and make import-export activities more efficient and streamlined.

The meeting also discussed the Terminal Operating System, container location tracking, electronic Delivery Order (e-DO), BIN lock, IGM amendment, pre-arrival processing, electronic invoices and packing lists, container security, and keeping the relevant offices open on Fridays and Saturdays.

It was decided that a joint meeting would be arranged with C&F agents, shipping agents and freight forwarders to make the pre-arrival process and automation system more effective. The meeting also emphasized strengthening coordination with the Port Authority regarding IGM amendments and on-chassis delivery.