The Ministry of Shipping has taken a firm stance that the 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) in Chattogram must refund any additional export and empty container handling charges without prior approval from the ministry.
A high-level meeting scheduled for November 9 to review the allegations and determine next steps was postponed due to the newly appointed Shipping Ministry secretary’s assumption of office and a lack of necessary preparation. The meeting is expected to take place next week, ministry sources confirmed.
Officials stated that since the ICD operators imposed higher charges despite the directive to suspend additional fees pending approval, any extra amount collected must be returned.
The 21 private ICDs currently handle about 93% of Bangladesh’s containerized exports — including 83% of ready-made garment shipments — along with nearly 20% of imports and a large share of empty containers.
The new ICD charge structure, which came into effect on September 1, introduced a steep hike—up to 44%—in handling fees for export containers:
Under the revised tariff structure: Handling a 20-foot export container has risen from Tk6,187 to Tk9,900. Fees for 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube containers increased from Tk8,250 to Tk13,200.
A new separate rate of Tk 14,900 has been introduced for 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot containers, previously billed at the same rate as standard 40-foot units.
Transport charges for empty containers also increased: From Tk1,705 to Tk 2,500 for 20-foot Teu, and from Tk3,410 to Tk 4,000 for 40-foot or 45-foot containers. Import handling charges, however, remain unchanged.
Md. Firoz Ahmed, Joint Secretary of the Ports Division, said: “If ICD charges are to be increased, the rise must be reasonable and approved by the Ministry of Shipping. They cannot impose additional charges without that approval. The penalties for collecting illegal charges will remain in force.”
A senior ministry official also confirmed to Times of Bangladesh, until the ministry issues a final decision, the collection of additional charges must stop. In the next meeting, we will ask ICD operators whether extra fees were collected — and if so, they will have to refund the excess.”
Industry insiders estimate that these ICD charge hikes could add around Tk 300 crore annually to export and logistics costs, deepening financial strains amid a difficult global trade environment.
BGMEA Vice-President Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury expressed frustration: “Although the ministry has already instructed to suspend the additional ICD charges, the depot owners continue to collect them. They argue that the freight forwarders are bearing the cost, but in reality, the buyers are now reducing our product prices because of these extra expenses.”
A prior stakeholder meeting on September 9 at the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) resolved that additional charges would remain suspended until ministry approval. However, the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA) later disputed this.
In a letter to CPA on September 25, BICDA said: No decision was taken to suspend the increased tariffs, and CPA has no authority to enforce such suspension. Private ICDs cannot operate without the revised tariff.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary General of BICDA, told Times of Bangladesh: “We were prepared to attend the meeting before it was postponed. We will explain our operational challenges and justify why the price adjustments were necessary.”
