Private inland container depot owners in Chattogram have deferred their programme to stop handling export goods and empty containers by one month, easing fears of an immediate disruption in the country’s export supply chain.
Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) said in a press statement on Wednesday that the decision followed an emergency discussion with the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).
BICDA said depot owners had earlier announced that from 11 December they would stop handling export and empty containers after the High Court ordered ICDs to halt the collection of newly increased charges, a development that triggered concern among exporters. CPA called an urgent meeting on Wednesday to address the situation.
“They have agreed to maintain normal import and export operations,” said CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk, adding that the suspension will stay in place for one month after discussions with the authority and the Chattogram Custom House on Tuesday.
“At the request of the Chattogram Port Authority, we have suspended the programme for one month,” said BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder. “During this time, the concerned authorities will settle the issue of the increased tariff. Until then, we will collect charges at the previous rate.”
The 21 private ICDs handle nearly 93 per cent of Bangladesh’s containerised exports, including 83 per cent of ready-made garment shipments, and manage about 20 per cent of imports along with a major share of empty-container movements.
Charges were increased on 1 September for handling export containers and empty boxes, with export-related fees rising by almost 44 per cent while import charges remained unchanged.
Handling a 20-foot export container rose from Tk6,187 to Tk9,900, while fees for 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube containers increased from Tk8,250 to Tk13,200. A separate Tk14,900 rate was introduced for 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot containers, which had previously been billed at the same rate as standard 40-foot units.
Transport charges for empty containers also went up, from Tk1,705 to Tk2,500 for 20-foot units and from Tk3,410 to Tk4,000 for 40-foot or 45-foot containers. Import-handling charges remain unchanged.
