The Chattogram Port Authority has postponed by one month the mandatory use of online banking for payment of 100% of container consignee bills, allowing users additional time to transition to the digital payment system.
The new system will now become mandatory from 1 November, instead of 1 October. Until 31 October, port users will be able to pay bills through online banking as well as pay orders and bank revolving accounts.
The decision was announced in a notification signed by Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim on Wednesday.
According to the notification, the extension was granted following a request from the Chattogram Customs Agents Association to facilitate a smoother transition and make port services faster, more convenient and more modern.
From 1 November, however, the port authority will no longer accept pay orders or payments through bank revolving accounts for consignee bills.
The port authority had initially planned to introduce the fully digital payment system from 23 September, discontinuing manual payment methods. The move triggered protests from employees and owners’ representatives of customs clearing and forwarding agencies, who observed a four-hour work stoppage.
Following the protest, the port authority extended the deadline for manual payment methods until 30 September.
The Chattogram Customs Agents Association subsequently requested that the bank revolving account facility be retained alongside the online payment system. Following discussions between the association and port officials, it was decided to continue allowing revolving accounts during the transition period.
Meanwhile, technical integration between the Chattogram Port Authority’s online payment system and Sonali Bank has been completed. Port users can now pay port bills online through Sonali Bank’s digital payment gateway.
The port authority said the digital payment system will eventually allow users to settle bills through multiple banking channels, including online and mobile banking, as well as debit and credit cards.
The authority has urged customs clearing and forwarding agents, consignees and other port users to become familiar with the online payment system before the November 1 deadline.
CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said the mandatory implementation of online payment had been deferred by one month to allow port users additional time to adapt to the new system.
“Until 31 October, bills can be paid through pay orders and bank revolving accounts alongside online banking. From 1 November, payments through pay orders and revolving accounts will no longer be accepted,” he said.
