The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has strongly opposed the recent increase in container handling charges at 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) in Chattogram, calling the move “illegal and irregular.”
The CPA stated that the new charges, which took effect on September 1, were implemented without the approval of the Tariff Determination Committee established under the Private ICD and CFS Policy 2016.
In an urgent letter dated August 31, the CPA requested that the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) be instructed not to collect the increased tariffs from shippers, consignees, shipping agents, freight forwarders, and other port users. The port authority also convened a stakeholder consultation to ensure compliance with the official tariff policy.
CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk stated in his letter that any tariff revisions for private ICDs must be approved by the Ministry of Shipping upon the recommendation of the Tariff Committee. “Private depots cannot impose increased tariffs illegally and irregularly without approval,” the letter noted.
BICDA’s Response
In response, BICDA defended the tariff hike in a letter to the Ministry of Shipping on September 2. The association argued that despite the policy, no functional tariff committee has been in place since the ICD/CFS Policy was introduced in 2016. Even though a committee was announced in 2019, it has not determined or approved any tariff structure for private ICDs.
BICDA President Khalilur Rahman, in his signed letter, highlighted the need to consider the realities of a free-market economy. “There is no tariff committee for shipping lines, freight forwarders, clearing agents, or transport operators. Expecting ICD tariffs to be fixed by such a committee is impractical,” he stated.
BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Shikder further argued that rising costs—including increased wages, fuel prices, transport costs, bank interest rates, and the depreciation of the taka—have made it impossible for ICDs to operate without revising tariffs.
A senior Ministry of Shipping official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Times of Bangladesh that under the current ICD policy, tariff increases cannot be imposed without the Tariff Committee’s approval. “We have received the port authority’s letter and will take a decision based on their recommendation. If there is justification for a tariff revision, it will be determined through the committee,” the official said.
According to BICDA’s circular dated July 15, export container handling charges have risen significantly. A 20-foot export container now costs Tk 9,900, up from Tk 6,187. Charges for 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube containers increased from Tk 8,250 to Tk 13,200. A new rate of Tk 14,900 has been introduced for 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot containers.
Transport charges for empty containers have also increased, with 20-foot units rising from Tk 1,705 to Tk 2,500, and larger containers increasing from Tk 3,410 to Tk 4,000.
However, import container handling charges remain unchanged at Tk 12,605 for 20-foot containers and Tk 14,557 for 40-foot containers. These rates were last revised in August 2022 following a government fuel price hike.
Currently, 21 private ICDs in Chattogram handle approximately 93 percent of Bangladesh’s export cargo—including 83 percent of ready-made garment shipments—and nearly 20 percent of containerized imports. More than four-fifths of export cargo passing through Chattogram Port goes through these depots before being shipped overseas.
