Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Feb 14: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) launches its first ever Chittagong-Mongla container feeder service from tomorrow (Saturday) aiming to ensure hassle-free transportation of goods by avoiding traffic jam on the highway.
The initiative of the state-owned BSC will meet the growing demand for quick transportation of containerized cargo from the country's south-western districts to the prime seaport Chittagong and boost up export and import.
The shippers started loading containers on MV Banglar Sikha Friday afternoon through a brief function arranged by the Shipping Corporation in the port.
Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed, managing director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Commodore Maqsumul Quader and Commissioner of Customs Masud Sadik, senior officials and business representatives attended the function.
A senior BSC official told the FE on Friday evening that the BSC feeder vessel Banglar Shikha berthed at jetty No 3 of the New Mooring Container Terminal and concerned shippers have started loading containers on to the vessel that has the capacity to transport 681 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit).
The vessel will leave Chittagong seaport for Mongla seaport at around 10.00 am on Saturday and is expected to reach the destination by Sunday morning.
"This is a trial service on the river route between the country's two maritime ports. Once the operation is successful we will continue to operate the feeder service. Primarily there will be four round trips," said Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, assistant manager (PR) of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.
The service, a long-felt demand of the business community, will certainly draw appreciation of the shippers, exporters and importers but they feel that the freight charges fixed by the operator (BSC) are not reasonable.
"It is a welcome decision of the state-owned shipping corporation. But the freight tariff should be more reasonable. We have asked the BSC authority to lessen the freight tariff by 20-25 per cent for the national interest. This will also enhance their earning," said Md Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Shippers Council of Bangladesh.
He further said that exporters of frozen foods, raw jute and jute goods are currently transporting their goods by road that often faces severe traffic congestion. In most cases they fail their shipment schedules for traffic jam. They have to pay additional charges for carrying goods by road.
The BSC has initially fixed the freight tariff at US$ 120 for each 20-foot container, $ 150 for each reefer container and $ 90 for each empty container, Mr. Karim said.
The main goal of the initiative is to meet growing demand for transportation of containerized cargo from the country's south-western districts to the Port of Chittagong.
Praising the initiative Nasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, first vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also urged the BSC authority to make the freight rates reasonable ones.
