The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended the oral examination for clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent licenses, which was scheduled between June 21 and 24, 2026. The suspension came a day after the schedule was announced, citing unavoidable reasons. Earlier, the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy (CEVTA) conducted the first-ever written test for the licenses in Chattogram, where 2,521 candidates participated out of nearly 3,000 shortlisted applicants. Only 210 passed, and most politically affiliated candidates reportedly failed, leading to pressure on NBR.

Officials involved said the written test was part of the new C&F Agent Licensing Rules 2026, designed to ensure transparency in the licensing process. They alleged that political influence had previously dominated license distribution. After the results excluded most ruling party activists, discontent spread among political circles, and attempts were made to alter the results. A list of 110 candidates was reportedly sent to CEVTA for inclusion, but officials refused to comply.

The CEVTA director confirmed that the oral test was postponed following NBR’s directive but said he was unaware of the specific reasons. The NBR chairman did not respond to requests for comment.