Berth operators engaged in container handling at Chattogram Port have urged the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) to immediately revise their contract rates, citing a sharp rise in diesel prices that has significantly increased operational costs.
The demand was made in a letter sent to CPA Chairman on Monday by the president of the Berth Operators, Ship Handling Operators and Terminal Operators Owners Association Fazle Ekram Chowdhury.
According to the association, diesel was priced at Tk80 per litre when tenders for the relevant services were submitted on 19 January 2022. Since then, fuel prices have increased in several phases, including a Tk34 per litre hike in August 2022, followed by another Tk15 increase.
The latest Tk20 per litre increase on Sunday took the diesel price to Tk135 per litre, the association said.
As a result, diesel prices have increased by Tk55 per litre, or nearly 69 per cent, compared with the rate prevailing when the tenders were submitted in 2022.
The association said container handling at Chattogram Port depends heavily on transport and fuel-powered equipment, and the sharp rise in diesel prices has substantially increased berth operation costs.
It said operators were finding it increasingly difficult to continue activities under contract rates fixed when fuel prices were much lower.
“Under the existing contract rates, it has become nearly impossible to sustain berth operations while absorbing the increased costs and resulting financial losses,” the association said in its letter.
The operators also pointed out that fuel-price adjustments have already been made in several other sectors and urged the CPA to take similar measures for port-related contracts.
They requested the port authority to immediately adjust container handling contract rates in line with the current diesel price, saying the move was necessary to ensure uninterrupted operation of the port.
