The Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) has protested the announcement by the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA) to increase export container handling charges by 20–50%.
Members of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association expressed this protest at a press conference held on Saturday morning at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital.
BAFFA member Abrarul Alam stated that under the new decision, the charge for a 20-foot container has been increased from Tk6,187 to Tk9,900, for a 40-foot container from Tk8,250 to Tk13,200, and for a 45-foot high-cube container from Tk8,250 to Tk14,900.
He said, “The estimated consumer inflation in the country in July was 8.55%, yet the attempt to increase handling charges by 20 to 50%, and in some services effectively by up to 80%, is unreasonable.”
In his opinion, the pressure of increased costs will ultimately fall on foreign buyers, who may shift to competing markets like Vietnam and China.
When asked whether the authorities had been informed about their concerns, Abrarul Alam stated, “We have contacted the Ministry of Commerce, and letters have already been sent to the Chittagong Port Authority and Customs.”
At the press conference, Abrarul Alam also raised several demands. These include: immediate reconsideration of the decision to increase charges, urgent government intervention, and improving service quality, transparency, and efficiency instead of raising charges.
Regarding this matter, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sikdar, told Times of Bangladesh, “Efforts are being made to bring abnormally low rates to a normal level, and if this is not done, the business sustainability of operators will be in question.”
He explained that export containers often contain goods from multiple shippers, requiring sorting, stuffing, separate warehousing, and compliance, which are not similarly required in the import sector. Therefore, the current charges for exporters are abnormally low.
Ruhul Amin said, “In reality, the cost of transporting a 20-foot container from the depot to the port, including transport, warehousing, staff, and fuel costs, is already higher than the current rate. Therefore, standardised and increased rates are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of operators.”
He further added, “During the 2020–22 period, sea freight rates increased multiple times, and foreign buyers still bore those additional costs and accepted exports. Hence, the current 20 to 50% increase can also be borne by buyers if deemed necessary.”
