Chattogram port urges importers to collect their goods to ease congestion

BANGLADESH's Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is writing directly to importers asking them to take delivery of their imported cargoes to ease congestion at the port.

Some 44,000 TEU of fully loaded containers are lying at the port yards, well past the maximum capacity of 34,868 TEU, the CPA said in a letter.

"As the delivery of the containers has been very slow for the last one month, the port has been facing operational disruption," the letter added.

Importers earlier blamed limited services provided by various government and other offices involved in releasing goods for the slow delivery from the port.

The CPA sent letters to 13 importing firms that brought in 2,800 tonnes of garlic, ginger and onion for Ramadan, asking them to collect these goods that have been stranded at the port for the last few weeks, The Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh reported.

"We did this to reduce the congestion and accelerate the supply of commodities in the market," said CPA member Md Zafar Alam.

According to port authorities, 208 TEU containers loaded with 850 tonnes garlic, 475 tonnes ginger and 1,473 tonnes onion are lying in its yards. More containers carrying garlic, ginger and onion have remained on board several vessels waiting at the outer anchorage to get a berth, said CPA officials.

Constant pressure from the CPA and the shipping ministry to resolve the congestion, has forced the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh Bank to implement several initiatives, like the full-scale re-opening of the Chattogram Customs House and some branches of banks as well as allowing all types of imports to be shifted to the private inland container depots.

The CPA also sent letters to the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chattogram C&F Agents Association to join efforts to reduce the port congestion.

Chattogram C&F Agents Association secretary Liakat Ali Hawlader said importers were unable to receive their deliveries on time as the relevant offices, such as customs house, banks, the plant quarantine department and the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, have been maintaining limited operations since the shutdown started.

http://en.sisi-smu.org/

2020/5/7 11:34:28