Lockdown worsens Ctg port logjam

Export, import bills slip by 90pc

Doulot Akter Mala | Published: April 18, 2020 23:09:48

Average submission of bills of entry and bill of export slid by 85 to 90 per cent between March 26 and April 11, resulting in huge congestion at the Chittagong port, customs officials said.
The officials blamed the importers for not getting the goods released citing shortages of labour and transport besides the closure of industrial units exacerbated by nationwide lockdown.
But importers said they are facing difficulties in obtaining original documents due to closure of DHL parcel service, getting Import Permit (IP) and other certifications from the relevant clearance agencies.
Also, the closure of many readymade garments companies compelled exporters to keep their imported raw materials in the port since they import goods under bond facility, which needs to be stored in factory warehouses to meet the government requirement.
Customs officials acknowledged the slow pace in clearance led to the stockpile of consignments of essential products and other goods in the port.
They said if this situation continues, it will threaten to disrupt the overall supply chain of food and other necessary products.
Although the National Board of Revenue or NBR has resumed nearly 90 per cent of the customs assessment process during the shutdown period, it requires reciprocity from other agencies to expedite the release of goods.
At present, container storage capacity at the main sea port is 49,018 TEUs. On April 12, it fell to 496,116 TEUs and on April 15 to 48,175 TEUs.
The government imposed shutdown in the name of general holidays on March 26, which is supposed to continue until April 25. It has also locked down many areas within and outside Dhaka to slow the spread of deadly virus that has already killed over 60 people in the country infecting hundreds.
Until April 6, 2020, the customs authorities were conducting assessment on a limited scale, but it has resumed full-fledged assessment except commercial goods after an order from the tax authority and a request from the ministry of shipping.
Talking to the FE, commissioner of the Chittagong Custom House Fakhrul Alam said his agency is conducting assessment for all imported goods, expect for finished goods such as car, furniture, etc during the period.
"Like customs authority, other relevant entities will have to provide required services to clear goods," he said.
To release goods, importers need to obtain clearance certificates from different departments and wings under the ministries of commerce, shipping, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, energy and power, environment, Bangladesh Bank, NBR, export import control department, and Atomic Energy Commission.
Mr Islam said proper coordination is necessary to work together as customs alone cannot release the imported goods, though they are working at heightened risk of contracting the virus.
The other entities will have to work for at least two-three days in a week during the lockdown to expedite customs assessment, he argued.
Talking to the FE, BSTI director SM Ishaque Ali said they are issuing certificates during the lockdown. A senior official of the Ministry of Commerce said they have instructed their relevant authority to expedite the certification procedures so that imported goods can be released faster.
Mahbubur Rahman, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or CCCI, said due to the closure of DHL, importers are facing difficulties to obtain original documents required by the customs authority to release goods.
He said labour and transportation shortage is natural during this lockdown as life is under threat due to COVID-19.
Recently, the CCCI president sent a letter to the cabinet secretary, requesting the formation of a special task force and keeping relevant offices open on a limited scale to expedite the release of imported goods.
Mahfuzul Huq, a former director of the CCCI, said readymade garment companies are closed now so they are not able to release their goods.
"Most of the export-oriented sectors import goods under the bonded warehouse facility and they are not allowed to store their imported raw materials in places other than the government-designated warehouses," said Hoque, convener of internal trade standing committee at the Chittagong chamber.
Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, general secretary of the Chittagong Customs Clearing and Forwarding AgentsAssociation, said they have faced problem to secure import permits from the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCIE) due to the lockdown.
Customs officials said many of the importers of perishable goods such as fruits are reluctant to get the items released as demand fell.
Habib Rahman, an importer of fruits, said they are not releasing goods as the demand for the fruits has slumped by 75 per cent now.
doulot_akter@yahoo.com