Importers Blamed for 80 Percent of Port Clearance Delays at Chattogram Despite Automation

Chattogram, August 1, 2026 — Importers and their clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents are found to account for nearly 80 percent of the total port-clearance time at Bangladesh's prime seaport, significantly limiting the benefits of customs automation. 📊 The finding comes from a Chattogram Customs House (CCH) review conducted in the wake of contentions regarding time lapses in trade handling at ports. 🏗️

📋 The review shows that despite the introduction of several quick-fire automated processes, Bangladesh's port-clearance time has not fallen substantially because importers often delay submitting Bills of Entry (B/E). ⚠️

📊 Key Findings from CCH Review

📈 The analysis, based on ASYCUDA World data for April 2026, found:

• ⏱️ Average clearance time — 271 hours (more than 11 days) for AEO green channel consignments
• 📋 From IGM to release — from Import General Manifest submission to final release
• 🏭 Importer delays — account for ~80% of total clearance time
• ⚙️ Customs processing — only ~20% of total time
• 📊 Customs assessment speed — 46% completed within 1 day, 76% within 1 day, 82% within 2 days, 88% within 3 days

📊 Customs officials have said they have virtually no manual involvement in releasing AEO consignments. Once an importer submits the Bill of Entry, customs assessment is completed automatically. 📋

"Whatever improvements customs introduces, the overall port release time cannot be reduced unless importers submit their Bills of Entry promptly. We need a proper policy requiring importers or their agents to submit Bills of Entry within a specified timeframe."

📊 The official said the National Single Window (NSW) initiative has already shortened customs assessment time, with most assessments now completed within two days. 📋

🇮🇳 India Comparison: Mandatory B/E Submission

📋 The official cited India's experience as a model. India made submission of Bills of Entry mandatory within a day of cargo arrival in 2019:

• 📊 India ranking improvement — World Bank Ease of Doing Business (Trading across Border) improved from 146th to 80th position
• ⏱️ India clearance time — average fell from 264.5 hours to 96.7 hours within a year
• 📋 India Customs Act 1962, Section 46 — requires importers to present B/E before the end of the day preceding cargo arrival
• ⚠️ Bangladesh gap — customs rules do NOT prescribe any mandatory deadline for importers to submit B/E

⏱️ Detailed Time Breakdown

📊 A presentation by Chattogram Customs House showed detailed time breakdowns:

• 📋 Manifest processing — customs takes average 58 hours (conversion, container, DG segments, manifest registration)
• ⚙️ Assessment — 76% completed within 1 day of B/E submission
• 💰 Post-duty release — average another 89 hours AFTER duty payment
• 💳 A-Challan delays — importers take 2-3 days to pay duties despite digital payment availability

🏭 Industry Perspective: AEO Certified Company

📋 Tapas Biswas, Manager (VAT, Finance) at Pharmaceuticals PLC, an AEO-certified company, provided the importer perspective:

"Some junior customs officials still remain doubtful about AEO companies, suspecting that they may evade duties or receive excessive privileges. Such mistrust sometimes creates unnecessary delays."

📊 He also pointed to additional challenges:

• 🔄 Frequent transfers — of customs officials, requiring new officers to learn AEO procedures
• 📅 AEO renewal delays — certification expired in December 2025 but renewal not yet received
• 🚢 CPA processing — release documents at Chittagong Port Authority before customs clearance
• 💻 Digital adaptation — limited adaptation to digital customs system slows process

⚠️ However, Mr Biswas disagreed with the customs assessment that importers alone are responsible for 80% of clearance delays:

"Importers cannot be held solely responsible for such a large share of the delay. Procedural bottlenecks across multiple agencies also contribute significantly to the overall clearance process."

🔮 Implications for Trade Facilitation

🌐 The findings have significant implications for Bangladesh's trade competitiveness:

• 📦 Export supply chain — slow import clearance affects raw material availability
• 💰 Business costs — extended clearance increases storage and demurrage costs
• 📊 Global ranking — port clearance time affects ease of doing business ranking
• ⏱️ PM's 14-day target — challenge to achieve with importer-side delays

🎯 The solution requires policy reform — making B/E submission mandatory within a specified timeframe, similar to India's approach. Combined with the PM's recent announcement of 24/7 customs services at Chattogram Port, this could significantly reduce clearance times and improve Bangladesh's trade competitiveness. 🚀