2000 loaded containers lying idle at Ctg Port for long

FE Team | Published: November 12, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Jasim Uddin Haroon
Some 2000 containers loaded with industrial raw materials and other commodities have been lying at the Chittagong port for a long time without being cleared.
Although penal rents are being levied every day on the consignments, the importers remain undeterred while the import costs escalate.
Port officials said that most of the containers had already crossed the free time of 30 days and are now likely to be placed for auction as per the customs rules.
Besides, a large number of undelivered containers were also creating fresh congestion at the port over the past few days.
Port officials told the FE that 97 containers full of metal scraps needed for manufacturing mild steel rod remained undelivered for a long time.
Capital machineries in 74 containers, animal feed ingredients in 65 containers and different kinds of bags in 58 containers had remained undelivered for long, port officials said.
Nineteen containers with imported dates also remained uncleared for a long period at the port.
Apart from these, a large number of imported containers with aluminium's, ingots, brown sugar, marble blocks, different types of stones needed for the construction sector and crystal products remained, among other items, undelivered for a long period.
Port officials said that the importers earlier used to keep their cargoes at the port yards as the rent was cheap compared to that of private warehouses.
But, currently, the penal rents had been increased fourfold to discourage the importers to store their cargoes and as a result most of the importers had taken delivery of their consignments to avoid penal rents.
Importers have to pay $ 6.0 each day for every container after expiration of the free time up to 12 days.
From the day 13 to day 28, importers have to pay $ 12 for each container each day. From day 29 and onwards, $ 48 is charged for each container each day.