After a month-long suspension, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has announced that its new tariff structure will come into effect from October 15.
The decision was confirmed in a notification signed by Abdus Shakur, Chief Finance and Accounting Officer of CPA, on September 30.
Earlier, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs had published a gazette on September 14, increasing the port tariff by an average of 41 percent. The new rates, titled “Tariff on Goods and Vessels etc. for Chittagong Port Authority-2025,” were initially scheduled to be enforced from September 15.
However, in response to objections raised by business organizations, Shipping Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain announced a temporary suspension during a workshop at the CPA auditorium on September 20. Following a subsequent decision of the CPA board, the implementation date was deferred to October 15.
According to the CPA notification, vessel bills, container bills, and cargo bills for all ships arriving at Chattogram Port after 12:00am on October 14 will be calculated under the revised tariff. Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agents, along with other stakeholders, will also be required to pay fees in line with the new structure from that date.
Additionally, all shipping agents listed with CPA must apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for incoming vessels by ensuring that sufficient funds are deposited in their designated revolving accounts in scheduled banks, as per the new tariff requirements.
To ensure smooth and uninterrupted enforcement, the CPA has directed concerned software service providers to complete necessary updates, system upgrades, and validation work in advance. These updates will facilitate the accurate preparation of vessel, cargo, and container bills under the revised tariff schedule from the start of October 15.
