Shipping guide
Bangladesh shipping guide
Ports, documents, customs, holidays and detention and demurrage, in plain English. This is general information; we confirm the exact rules for your shipment.
Ports and depots
Most of Bangladesh's container trade goes through Chattogram.
Chattogram port
The country's main seaport. Most containers go from here via the big transhipment hubs to the rest of the world.
Mongla port
The second seaport, in the south-west; useful for some cargo and routes.
Off-dock depots (Chattogram)
Private depots outside the port. Export cargo is usually stuffed into containers here, and empty containers are kept here.
Inland depots near Dhaka
Kamalapur ICD (by rail) and Pangaon (by river), for some Dhaka-area shipments.
Export documents
What's usually needed. It varies with the goods, the buyer and the country.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Export (EXP) form, from your bank
- LC or sales contract
- Utilization Declaration (UD), for garments where it applies
- Certificate of origin, if requested
- Bill of export, lodged with Customs by the C&F agent
Import documents
- Import Registration Certificate (IRC), TIN and BIN
- LC or the bank's import documents
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading (B/L)
- Certificate of origin and insurance papers, where they apply
- Permits or test certificates for controlled goods
How customs works
Customs runs on an online system, and a licensed C&F agent files on your behalf.
- DeclarationThe C&F agent lodges the bill of entry (imports) or bill of export (exports).
- AssessmentCustoms checks the goods' HS code and value and sets the duties and taxes. Some shipments are physically examined.
- Payment and releaseOnce duties are paid, release is approved; port charges are settled and the goods leave.
Holidays and peak season
Over Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, offices, banks and transport mostly stop for several days, and the port gets congested before and after. Space can also be tight in the garment peak season. Book shipments before a holiday early; PMESC publishes holiday schedules as Notices.
Detention and demurrage, simply
The biggest cause of surprise bills. We state your free days before you accept a quotation.
| Charge | When it starts | Charged by |
|---|---|---|
| Demurrage | The container stays at the port or terminal after its free days | The shipping line |
| Detention | You keep the container outside the port after its free days | The shipping line |
| Port storage rent | Goods or containers stay at the port after its free time | The port authority |
Free days and daily rates differ by carrier, container type and contract. Having papers ready and returning empties quickly avoids most of these charges.
A few common terms
- FCL / LCL — a full container / a shared container
- FOB — the seller is responsible until the goods are on board; then the buyer
- CIF — the seller pays freight and insurance to the destination port
- B/L (bill of lading) — the carrier's receipt and title document for the cargo
- Cut-off — the last time to deliver the container and papers before the vessel sails
- HS code — the international number for a product type, used to set duties
Want answers for your shipment?
Send a request and we'll tell you which papers, which container and what it costs.
- Phone+88 01710-976880
- Emailshafiqoramax@gmail.com