In a letter to commerce minister recently the CCCI alleged that a section of freight forwarding agents were realising charges for NOC, documentation, LOL and status change in addition to China additional charge.

The freight forwarders are entitled to collect NOC charge only, but they are realising the other charges without approval from the authorities concerned, it said.

It said the freight forwarders operating under the banners of International Freight Forwarders Association of Bangladesh (IFFAB) and Association of Air Cargo Agents of Bangladesh (ACAB) have been engaged in such practice.

They are not even registered with the controlling authority, the CCCI said in the letter.

The registration of these two bodies with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is now under process. But CCCI and some other business organisations urged the commerce ministry to approve IFFAB and ACAB as a single organisation.

The CCCI urged the commerce minister to arrange a joint meeting with representatives from all ministries and departments concerned and shipping agents to find out ways and means for introducing a smooth system of freight forwarding.

In this regard CCCI made recommendations to make freight forwarders accountable to both NBR and Bangladesh Bank and also to make it compulsory for them to take NBR licence in carrying out their operations.