The government has suspended the recently announced increase in tariffs and service charges at Chattogram Port for one month following strong demands from businesses. The announcement came on Saturday (20 September) during a workshop titled “Customs and Port Management: Problems, Prospects and the Way Forward” at the Chattogram Port Auditorium. The keynote address was delivered by Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser on Shipping Affairs.
He said that rising operating costs and ongoing projects, including the Bay Terminal, had compelled the port to raise its charges. However, the temporary suspension would help ease pressure on exporters. The revised tariff will come into effect after one month.
At the workshop, business leaders urged the government to suspend the tariff hike for at least six months, reduce certain charges, and form a joint task force to resolve service crises. They also proposed legal reforms to expedite container auctions and cargo delivery.
Under the new tariff structure, service charges at the port and private inland container depots (ICDs) were raised by an average of 40–45 percent. Exporters complained that the ICDs increased charges without improving service quality or capacity, and they criticized the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for failing to maintain proper oversight.
Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), acknowledged that the port is operating beyond its design capacity, remains dependent on tides, and lags behind global standards due to limited depth. He stressed the urgent need for quicker container clearance, customs automation, and legal reforms to cope with anticipated trade growth over the next five years.
NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan announced that all auctionable containers stuck at the port would be listed and auctioned within the month. He also revealed an initiative to add 30 abandoned vehicles, left by former MPs, to the government transport pool.
A paper presented at the workshop highlighted that in terms of logistics performance, trade costs, and customs clearance efficiency, Chattogram Port still trails far behind the world’s leading ports.