Shipments feared to suffer during long 11-day vacation

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Jasim Uddin Haroon
Shipments of exports, especially apparel items, are feared to suffer while all others in the country will be celebrating the Eid and puja festivals during the long 11-day vacation, which has already got underway.
The government has been able to convince the freight forwarders to provide emergency services only to exporters during the period, though others did not pay heed to the government appeal, sources said.
Owners of different export-oriented manufacturing units said shipment of any cargo is a long process and freight forwarders alone cannot do it.
Syed Badrul Hoque, president of International Freight Forwarding Association of Bangladesh (IFFAB), told the FE: "The government has asked me to arrange emergency services only during the vacation and I'll do accordingly."
Abdus Salam Murshedhy, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the sector would face a shipment problem due to the long 11-day recess.
Many will even miss their deadlines on shipment, he said.
"This is a chain work and services of all including customs clearing and forwarding agents, shipping lines, port and customs are equally important," he added.
However, Mr Murshedy urged the government to ensure only emergency services for the export-oriented cargoes.
Md Fazlul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said: "The long vacation will slow down their production at the factory level."
Captain Hasnat, executive director of the Orient Express Lines (OEL), a leading feeder operator, said that shipments would come down during the long vacation.
"Import cargoes will arrive in time at ports, but most of them will remain undelivered," he said.
Local exporters ship around 500 containers a day and most of them contain apparel items.