Shipping Agency at Chattogram, Mongla and Confirmed Matarbari Assignments
How a Bangladesh shipping-agency appointment is structured, what the port agent owns, and which OPA, crew, survey, husbandry or logistics tasks require separate instructions.
CPA accepts shipping-agency enquiries for Chattogram and Mongla. A Matarbari request is reviewed only for a confirmed facility, project or vessel assignment after the responsible operator or facility route is identified. Principals should verify the agent's current licence or customs-station authority for the intended appointment rather than relying only on a website description. OPA, crew, survey, husbandry, NVOCC and spare work remain separate instructions. Appointment scope and reporting remain as agreed in the agency nomination for that vessel.
A port-information request, PDA, quotation, questionnaire response or reference photograph is not an appointment. Local action starts only after the represented interest, written nomination, authority, payer, prefunding, scope and operational contacts are confirmed.
Core Agency Roles
Owner's / Charterer's Agent, pre-arrival submissions, vessel clearance coordination, berth or anchorage reporting, port-call accounts and instructions within the written appointment. Protective Agency (OPA), a separate owner- or charterer-side appointment for independent reporting, PDA/DA review, SOF records and agreed exception reporting. Liner / Hub Agency, representation and documentation only where a separate carrier or line appointment and authority have been accepted. Husbandry, a separate service instruction for approved stores, CTM, transport or attendance; crew change, imported spares and surveys follow their dedicated processes.
Cargo & Operations Coverage
The shipping-agent scope follows the vessel, cargo and nominated terminal. Stevedoring, lighterage, bunker, repair, imported spare, survey and other third-party work is quoted and instructed separately, with the responsible supplier, authority and account shown in writing.
Call reporting after appointment
The accepted reporting line should cover ETA changes, pilot/anchorage or berth position, NOR receipt/tendering or re-tendering where applicable, shifting, lighterage or cargo prospects, revised ETC, sailing and open account items. Estimates and prospects remain qualified until the responsible authority, terminal or provider confirms them.
One Duty Desk, Two Operating Ports and Assignment-Only Matarbari Support
The same duty desk can receive Chattogram and Mongla instructions and may review a confirmed Matarbari facility, project or vessel assignment. Each call, facility and service retains its own appointment, authority, PDA and operational confirmation.
Licensing Got Simpler in Late 2025
Until the end of 2025, shipping agents in Bangladesh were licensed under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules 2020, the same framework used for ordinary clearing and forwarding agents, despite the two roles working quite differently in practice. The National Board of Revenue replaced this with a standalone framework, the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules 2025, gazetted on 30 December 2025.
The practical change worth knowing about: the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025 created a separate licensing framework. Principals should verify the agent’s current licence, customs-station status and authority for the intended appointment against the operative NBR rules rather than relying on an older licence description or a website claim. Any statutory processing period remains subject to the complete application and competent authority.
Need a Bangladesh Shipping-Agent Scope?
Send vessel, port, ETA, cargo, appointment role, represented interest, payer, current nominated agent if any, PDA/quotation requirement and connected crew, survey, husbandry or cargo-working items.