The decision was taken following a shipping ministry directive against the backdrop of a demand from port users for simplification of the port formalities before taking delivery of imported cargo, port officials said.

Talking to The Daily Star CPA Chairman Shahadat Hossain said, " We are taking preparations to introduce one-stop service by the end of next week"

He said the service will quicken the delivery process as the documentation will be completed in one place in an hour which now takes four days.

"We introduced one-stop service for export goods especially for ready made garments two months ago and exporters are benefiting from it”, the CPA chairman said.

In response to a question whether the handling cost of cargo will be reduced by one-stop service, Hossain said, "The new service has no relevance to reduction of handling cost."

"It will relieve the traders of the trouble to move around so many points for documentation before delivery of cargo," he added.

However, port officials said the M-shed inside the port protected area will be used as the documentation centre to provide one-stop service for imported container cargo.

Now, the terminal building at the port is being used for providing one-stop service for delivery of export cargo.