Container-depot owners have now agreed to revise handling charges upward by 20 per cent instead of previously announced 81 per cent for outbound goods-laden boxes following a meeting with Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
The Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) on 20 July 2025 had announced new charges in case of handling empty boxes and some other services it provides, with effect from September 1.
The BICDA had enforced the new charges but the users did not agree to pay. Keeping such a situation in view, depot owners had announced their service stoppage from December 11 2024 to press home their demand.
However, on CPA's request, the depot owners had postponed the strike for one month in order to resolve the tariff-related impasse.
According to sources, a meeting was held at Chittagong Port on Thursday with CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman in the chair to discuss the charge hike issue.
Apart from the BICDA representatives, the stakeholders from Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA), Bangladesh Container Shipping Association (BCSA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BFFA), were present at the meet.
The meeting decided that depot owners would now raise the charges by 20 per cent for an interim period of six months.
Also, the port authority assured the BICDA that it will complete the procedure of making depot charges "standard one" by appointing international consultants within the said period.
When contacted, BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder told The Financial Express that they have agreed with the interim arrangement as the CPA has assured them of introduction of a standard procedure for fixing chargers by next six months.
syful-islam@outlook.com