Online Report
The business community, port users, exporters, importers and all others involved with the Chittagong Port operations have threatened to shut down the prime seaport, if the increased port tariffs are not withdrawn within a week.
The business leaders at a protest programme on Saturday gave the interim government the ultimatum to withdraw the recent 41% increase in tariffs at the Chittagong Port.
The port users called upon the government to cancel the increased port tariff that became effective on October 15. They demanded that the authorities reduce the rates.
President of Port Users Forum and former president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury at the meeting said they would go for a tough movement like paralyzing port activities, if their demand was not met.
The protest rally was held at the Navy Convention Centre in the port city. Alongside the ultimatum, C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agent employees declared that they would observe a symbolic four-hour work stoppage daily starting tomorrow (19 October).
Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury said, “We gave a memorandum to the Chief Adviser on 14 October. His office informed us that he could not focus on our demands due to his preoccupation with the July Charter. The July Charter has now been signed. We hope he will focus on this issue now.”
He further said that the tariff hike would not only hurt Chattogram-based businesses but would also negatively impact all traders and consumers nationwide, making the demand for withdrawal a national concern.
He also said, “We are giving the government one week to withdraw the increased tariff. If action is not taken within the time, the port will be shut down.”
Amirul Haque, former FBCCI director and Managing Director of Seacom Group said that some port tariffs might need adjustments but criticized the arbitrary nature of the hike.
He said, “Let us sit and discuss. Let’s decide how much is necessary through negotiations. I object to the 300% hike in the gate pass fee for heavy transport.”
He asked, “Why should a driver have to pay money just to take a vehicle and clear goods from the port? Can this happen in any civilized country?”
Among others, many prominent business figures, including Mohiuddin Ahmed, director of BGMEA, and SM Abu Tayeb, president of the International Business Forum of Chattogram (IBFC), protested against the imposed tariff of Chittagong port at the event.
Speakers at the meeting called upon the government and concerned authorities to suspend the new tariff structure immediately and warned that failure to resolve the issue within the next week could lead to a complete shutdown of port operations, potentially disrupting the country’s export and import activities.
On the other hand, container and goods transport operators in Chattogram have suspended all vehicle entry to the seaport from Saturday morning, protesting against what they described as an arbitrary increase in the port’s entry fee.
The leaders of transport associations said that the security department of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) issued an office order on 13 October, setting the new entry fee at Tk 200 plus 15% VAT, bringing the total to Tk 230 per heavy vehicle-up from the previous Tk 57.50.
Chattogram Inter-District Goods Transport Association, the Chattogram Truck and Covered Van Workers’ Union, and the Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners’ Association leaders said the port authority had imposed the new fee “forcibly” without consulting the main stakeholders.
In a joint statement the leaders said, “We handle around 85% of the port’s cargoes. Before deciding on such a major change, the port authority should have discussed the issue with us. We have protested this arbitrary decision before and urged the port to withdraw it, but no action was taken.”
Meanwhile, the officials of CPA said that operational activities of Chittagong port were quite normal on Saturday. There were complaints that trailer owners were obstructing the movement of some vehicles.