Increased port charges at Chattogram suspended for one month: Shipping adviser

The government has suspended the recently announced hike in tariffs and service charges at Chattogram port for one month following demands from traders.

The announcement was made by shipping affairs adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain on Saturday (September 20) at a workshop titled “Customs and Port Management: Problems, Prospects and the Way Forward” organised by the Economic Relations Division at the Chattogram Port Auditorium. He said the new charges would be implemented after one month.

The adviser said, “Charges at the port were increased due to rising operational costs and ongoing projects, including the Bay Terminal. However, this temporary suspension will provide some relief to exporters.”

At the workshop, business leaders demanded that the new tariff structure be postponed for at least six months. They also proposed reducing certain charges, forming a joint taskforce to address service shortages, and reforming laws to speed up container auctions and cargo delivery. They alleged that while charges at the port and private inland container depots (ICDs) had been raised by an average of 40–45 percent, service quality and capacity had not improved. They also blamed weak monitoring by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman said, “The port is operating beyond its designed capacity. It is still dependent on tides and, due to limited depth, lags behind global standards.” He stressed the need for expediting clearance of stuck containers, automation of customs, and legal reforms to manage projected trade growth over the next five years.

NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said all auctionable containers stranded at the port would be listed and auctioned within this month. He added that 30 vehicles abandoned by former MPs would be included in the government’s transport pool.

A paper presented at the workshop said Chattogram port still lags behind the world’s top ports in logistics performance, trade costs, and customs clearance efficiency.