Bangladesh Bank (BB) has withdrawn the minimum transaction threshold for payments to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) through the country’s real-time gross settlement system, allowing port users to settle operational charges of any amount through BD-RTGS.
However, the general minimum threshold is Tk1 lakh for other ports.
The move will allow vessel bills, container bills, consignee bills and other operational charges to be settled through the real-time payment system even when the amount falls below the general RTGS transaction threshold.
The new arrangement will take effect from September 15, according to a circular issued by BB on Tuesday.
The change means port-related payments will no longer have to shift to another payment channel solely because their value is below the applicable RTGS threshold, giving businesses access to the same settlement system for both small and large operational charges.
The initiative is also expected to benefit importers, exporters and shipping agents by easing management of small-value payments. Businesses will no longer need to arrange larger amounts merely to meet the previous threshold.
The CPA said the facility could reduce pressure on working capital across the logistics sector while saving both time and operational costs.
