To address the ongoing congestion of auctionable goods at Chattogram Port, Chattogram Customs House has announced three online auctions in September.
Nearly 500 containers, totaling 207 lots of various goods, will be auctioned, with the first auction set for September 9, followed by auctions on September 28 and 30.
The lots will feature a variety of goods, including concrete mixer lorries, industrial raw materials, fabrics, and other imported items. According to officials, the September 9 auction will include 58 lots, featuring five Sany concrete mixer lorries, each with a reserve price of Tk 75.91 lakh. Additional items include colloidal graphite powder, aluminous cement, air-conditioner parts, and chest freezer bodies.
On September 28, 48 lots will be auctioned, including more concrete mixer lorries, Chinigura aromatic rice, stainless steel pipe fittings, and non-woven fabrics, with product displays available from September 2 to 16.
The September 30 auction will feature 101 lots, including block-making machines, country bus chassis with engines, steel scrap, Gold Star elevators, BBQ grills, and amusement park equipment. Product displays for this auction began on August 31 and will continue until September 21.
Chattogram Port’s container storage capacity stands at 59,000 TEUs. As of September 1, 45,694 TEUs were occupying the yard, with 22.66 percent, or 10,357 TEUs, designated as auctionable containers. Many of these goods have been stuck at the port for 10 to 20 years, with delays attributed to fluctuating prices, smuggling, duty evasion, and fraud. In some cases, the port has retained goods due to irregularities in the import process.
Chattogram Customs House officials explained that many goods remain at the port due to issues like import disputes, duty evasion, and fraud. To expedite the clearance process, the Customs House has established an “auction committee” to speed up the auction, scrapping, or disposal of these containers. Officials believe this initiative will not only free up space but also boost government revenue.
As per customs regulations, goods not cleared within 30 days prompt the Customs House to issue a notice to importers. If the importers do not respond within 15 days, the goods are listed for auction.
Perishable or damaged goods are either disposed of or destroyed. Perishable items are buried, while chemicals are burned in designated areas.
Shakib Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of the Auction Branch, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Previously, we held two auctions per month, but this time we’ve arranged three e-auctions in September, covering about 500 containers. We plan to continue this process.”
Mohammad Yakub, General Secretary of the Auction Businessmen’s Welfare Association, welcomed the initiative, saying, “We’ve started inspecting the goods with bidders at the port. The decision to auction 500 containers within a month is commendable. However, if the auction approval process is made faster and simpler, the backlog could be cleared more quickly.”
