Vehicle imports through Bangladesh’s main seaport have jumped sharply ahead of the national election through Chattogram port, giving a significant boost to government revenue.
More than 7,000 vehicles were cleared through the port over the past six months, generating over Tk 1,200 crore in customs revenue, according to data provided by port and customs officials.
The volume marks a record for both Chattogram Port Authority and Chattogram Customs House, driven by stronger demand and faster clearance following policy interventions by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The officials said importers have accelerated deliveries in recent months, partly to meet pre-election demand and partly to avoid the risk of higher tariffs in the future.
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For years, hundreds of imported vehicles had remained stuck in the port’s car sheds as legal disputes and procedural delays prevented importers from taking delivery. Recent measures by the NBR have helped unlock those bottlenecks, allowing both older stock and newly imported vehicles to clear more quickly.
As a result, importers are now taking delivery of at least 50 vehicles a day, easing congestion and encouraging fresh imports. Under port regulations, vehicles left uncleared for more than 30 days are transferred to Customs for auction. Currently, only 103 vehicles meet the criteria for auction — a sharp decline from previous years.
Data from the Chattogram Port Authority shows a steady rise in monthly imports since the start of the current fiscal year. In July, just 450 vehicles arrived through the port. The number crossed 1,000 in August and climbed to 1,058 vehicles in December.
In total, importers brought in 841 brand-new vehicles and 6,225 other vehicles through 16 specialised roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships over the six-month period.
“Vehicle imports have increased significantly compared to the beginning of the fiscal year,” said Omar Faruk, Director (Administration) of the Chattogram Port Authority. “Faster clearance has helped reduce congestion in the port’s car sheds.”
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Customs data points to a similar trend. Sharif Md. Al-Amin, Assistant Commissioner at Chattogram Customs House, said that during the first six months of the last fiscal year, the port cleared 6,651 vehicles, generating Tk 1,153 crore in revenue.
“Compared to the previous fiscal year, this represents an increase of 1,034 vehicles and an additional Tk 124 crore in revenue,” he said.
Industry insiders say the surge reflects broader dynamics in Bangladesh’s vehicle import market.
Mohammed Habibur Rahman, former Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), said the country imports more than 20,000 cars annually, primarily from Japan and other markets.
While Chattogram handles a large share of those imports, many traders prefer Mongla port, citing lower costs and quicker processing times, he added.
Still, the recent uptick at Chattogram has sharply reduced backlog. Only 471 vehicles are currently waiting for delivery at the port’s two car sheds, which together can accommodate 1,250 vehicles. In previous months, the number had hovered around 2,000.
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With clearance speeding up and revenue climbing, officials say the port’s vehicle yards are now operating at a fraction of the pressure seen earlier, an uncommon development ahead of a national election, when trade flows typically face uncertainty.