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Chittagong Customs House has rolled out a dual delivery system, allowing select businesses to release imported goods from both customs houses and private inland container depots (ICDs).

The facility is available only to companies recognised as Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) by the National Board of Revenue for their compliance track record. A customs order issued Monday confirmed the long-awaited arrangement.

So far, 10 major manufacturers enjoy AEO status, including Square Pharmaceuticals, Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Berger Paints, Unilever Bangladesh, ACI Godrej Agrovet, Fair Electronics, Popular Pharmaceuticals, Toa Personal Protective Devices, GPH Ispat, and Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills.

AEOs already benefit from releasing 20 percent of their imported goods through the green channel without physical checks. But port congestion often delays clearance, pushing businesses to rely on private ICDs. The dual delivery system aims to ease this bottleneck and improve efficiency.

“This arrangement will expedite container delivery and significantly enhance the ease of doing business,” said an official of Chittagong Customs.

The initiative comes under AEO Rules-2024, with customs committed to gradually expanding the facility.