A month after receiving approval from the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Shipping has called for a review meeting to discuss the proposed tariff hike at Chattogram Port.
The meeting, which will bring together various stakeholders, is set for Monday (August 25) at 3:30 pm at the ministry’s conference room in Dhaka. Shipping Advisor Brigadier General (Retd.) M. Shakhawat Hossain will chair the session.
Key figures from the Shipping Ministry and Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), along with representatives from 20 business organizations and port-related stakeholder groups, are expected to participate in the meeting.
Munshi Md. Moniruzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Ports Wing at the Ministry of Shipping, shared with The Daily Times of Bangladesh that the purpose of the meeting is to gather opinions on the draft tariff structure, titled “Tariff on Goods and Vessels for Chattogram Port Authority-2025.”
“We will consider feedback from stakeholders to refine the draft tariff. Once finalized, it will be sent to the Law Ministry and will come into effect after a gazette notification,” Moniruzzaman explained, emphasizing that the new tariff framework is expected to be finalized soon.
This review comes after the Finance Ministry granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on July 24, endorsing the proposed tariff hike, though it encouraged CPA to focus on improving service quality and operational efficiency.
Shipping Advisor Shakhawat Hossain, during his visit to the port the following day (July 25), confirmed that a 30 percent increase in import-export tariffs had been agreed upon after extensive discussions with relevant stakeholders and inter-ministerial bodies.
However, the draft proposal suggests even sharper increases for certain services. For example, the tug charge for vessels over 20,000 gross registered tonnage (GRT) could rise from $632 to $3,415 — an eye-watering 440 percent hike. Similarly, the pilot charge for ships weighing 1,000 GRT may go up from $357.50 to $800, marking a 123.8 percent increase. Tug charges for vessels between 200–1,000 GRT are proposed to rise from $158 to $615 — a 289.2 percent jump.
These increases have sparked strong reactions from stakeholder groups, who claim that their feedback was not adequately considered when the NOC was sought from the Finance Ministry. In response to growing resistance, the Shipping Ministry has now convened this fresh review meeting, hoping to address the concerns of business communities.
Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif expressed his concerns to The Daily Times of Bangladesh, stating, “We do not expect the port’s tariff to be increased. But if the ministry decides to go ahead with the hike, we hope it won’t exceed 10 to 12 percent. We believe the review session will bring a fair solution.”
Chattogram Port, operating under a tariff structure put in place in 1986 and revised only slightly in 2008, provides 56 different services, ranging from tug assistance to cargo handling.
Recognizing the need for modernization, the CPA hired Spain-based IDOM Consulting, Engineering and Architecture in 2022, in collaboration with Bangladesh’s Logicforum Limited, to conduct a comprehensive review.
Their task is to align the tariff system with international standards, ensuring competitiveness, enhancing service quality, and boosting the port’s revenue-generating potential. The review aims to ensure that Chattogram Port, the country’s busiest seaport, remains efficient and competitive in the global maritime landscape.