Chittagong Port Shifts to 100% Digital Delivery to Go Paperless

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has eliminated manual paperwork from its cargo delivery documentation process by upgrading its automated Terminal Operating System (TOS). Every step—from applying for a delivery order to the final gate-out—will now be managed entirely on a digital platform.

While the country's prime seaport has used the TOS to manage vessel and container movements since 2011, full automation remained out of reach. Previously, only the Electronic Delivery Order (EDO) application and generation were processed online, leaving all subsequent steps to be handled manually.

CPA Acting Secretary Md. Nasir Uddin confirmed that the upgraded system operates sequentially. Users cannot skip any stage; the system automatically unlocks the next step only after the previous one is successfully completed and verified.

To enhance security, the port's TOS has been linked in real-time with the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) ASYCUDA World system. If customs authorities hold a container, the data instantly syncs with the port’s system, automatically locking all subsequent processes for that file until final customs clearance is granted.

Port officials expect this digital transformation to significantly improve the maritime trade ecosystem by cutting printing costs, saving valuable desk-to-desk processing time for C&F agents and traders, and eliminating fraud and document forgery. Users can now log into their portals from anywhere to track their file status in real-time.