Ctg port’s higher tariffs put on hold for a month

The government has deferred the rollout of Chattogram port's new tariff structure by one month after business leaders pressed for a year-long postponement and a phased increase.

Speaking at a seminar at the port's conference room yesterday, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said the revised rates, due to take effect on September 15, would remain suspended for now.

The decision follows widespread criticism from exporters and importers, who said higher charges will push up the cost of foreign trade and erode the country's competitiveness as it prepares to graduate from least developed country status next year.

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Govt move to hike port charges sparks concern

In the first comprehensive revision in nearly 40 years, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) last week raised service charges by an average of 41 percent through a gazette notification.

Container handling fees were among the steepest increases, with loading and unloading charges rising by almost $25 per container.

CPA collects fixed tariffs for services provided from the moment a ship enters Bangladeshi waters.

At the port, a series of activities takes place from piloting a ship from the outer anchorage to the jetty, to tugboat services, water supply, crane charges, berthing, loading and unloading containers and delivering goods. CPA charges a fee for each of these services, which together make up the port's tariff.

Business leaders said such an abrupt jump in port charges would inflate production and freight costs while leaving long-standing inefficiencies at the port unaddressed.

Hussain said the government is determined to enhance the port's capacity through initiatives such as fast-tracking the Bay Terminal project and expanding the use of other facilities, including Mongla port and Kamalapur ICD.

He added that foreign operators are not the only way to expand capacity, noting that no country has increased foreign investment by shutting its doors.

He also said the government plans to build a cold chamber facility at Mongla port to store perishable goods, which could help transform it into a regional trading hub if its full potential is realised.

At the seminar, titled "Workshop on Customs and Port Management: Problems, Prospects and Way Forward", chief adviser's Special Assistant Anisuzzaman Chowdhury called for a taskforce of all relevant agencies to speed up operations at the country's seaports.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohammed Yousuf, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan, CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman and Chattogram Additional Commissioner Nusrat Sultana were present. Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky chaired the event.

Additional Secretary of ERD and Project Director of Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) AHM Jahangir delivered the welcome address.

NBR Member Md Al Amin Pramanik, CPA Member Commodore Ahamed Amin Abdullah and Shahed Sarwar, deputy managing director of Chowdhury Group, took part as panellists.