Export container movement remains halted
The transport of containers between the Chattogram port and private inland container depots (ICDs) remained at a standstill yesterday, leading to uncertainty over the timely shipment of a major portion of the country's export-oriented cargo.
Various businesses have expressed deep concern over the deadlock, fearing that it will adversely impact Bangladesh's foreign trade, which is already facing issues brought on by the global spread of coronavirus.
Considering the current situation of the country's foreign trade, the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) and the Bangladesh Container Shipping Association (BCSA) yesterday sent separate letters to the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA).
The letters urged the BICDA to resolve the matter and resume the transport of export containers of the three major ICD companies.
The BICDA stopped transporting containers through the main line operators (MLOs) -- Maersk, Gold Star Line and Orient Overseas Container Line -- because they did not pay their respective ICD charges since January, said BICDA Secretary Md Ruhul Amin Sikder.
The unpaid dues amount to Tk 21.40 crore.
Almost all shipping agents of these MLOs and some others who are operating directly in Bangladesh have not paid their charges since January.
"But we stopped transporting containers of the three MLOs since they are not receiving our bills," Sikder said.
Only 25 per cent of the total export cargo is transported through containers owned by the three companies, he added.
Trident Shipping Line, a local agent of Gold Star Line, did not pay the charges as the bills sent by the ICDs had been marked up 22 per cent, Delwar Hossain, senior general manager of Trident Shipping, told The Daily Star.
A revision of the existing ICD charges is now on the cards at the shipping ministry and the shipping secretary will supervise the tariff enhancement, said BCSA General Secretary Captain Shahed Ahmed Chowdhury.
Since the matter has already been brought to the ministerial level, everyone should wait until a decision is taken, he added.
Such a deadlock will have further detrimental effects on the garment industry as the entire sector is going through a rough patch.
The country's apparel exports is facing fierce competition from other garment producing nations, said Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, chairman of the standing committee on port and shipping of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Moreover there is a disruption in the raw material supply chain due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, he added.
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