Dhaka, Jan. 3 -- The government has issued the country's first-ever shipping agent licensing rules, marking a significant step towards streamlining the operations of shipping agents across the nation.

Under the new guidelines, agents who obtain licences from any river port or seaport customs station will now be able to carry out their business at any ports in the country.

Previously, the shipping agents were given licences under the customs agent rules, thereby creating various complications for them as both the business of customs and forwarding (C&F) agents and the shipping business were operated under a single policy.

The newly enacted independent rules are expected to ease the problems facing the shipping agents for long, say indus...