The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has permitted clearance of the goods bound for the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka through Pangaon terminal in a bid to help ease congestion at the Chittagong port.
In a letter on August 22 last, the Customs Wing of NBR allowed importers of 1,856 containers to release their goods from the container depots at the port, following the importers' request, which was made during the recent unrest and mass uprising.
Rail communication across the country was halted during the unrest, which caused a supply chain disruption as it is usually the only means of shipping for the Dhaka-bound goods.
As goods unloading from the ships was uninterrupted, the port became congested.
Importers are not allowed to release goods from the port until the NBR designates the entrance and exit of the goods through a gazette notification, according to the laws, which controls the country's flow of goods.
A huge pile of Dhaka-bound goods in Chittagong port compelled the NBR to make the rules flexible for keeping the supply chain uninterrupted, said NBR sources.
Our Chattogram Correspondent adds: Flooding in Chattogram, Feni and Comilla have severely impacted export and import activities at the Chittagong Port, largely due to disruption in road and rail communications between Chattogram and Dhaka.
In response, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has prepared the Inland Container Terminal at Pangaon as an alternative for exporters and importers. This measure aims to mitigate the impact of the current transportation challenges.
CPA Secretary Mohammed Omar Faruk said, "The ongoing floods have caused significant delays and near-total stoppage of cargo transport via Chattogram-Dhaka road and railway routes. This disruption is affecting the import and export activities. To address this, the Inland Container Terminal at Pangaon has been strategically prepared to facilitate cargo movement using the Chattogram-Dhaka waterway."
He added, "Importers and exporters can now use the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal for their shipments through Chittagong Port. Inland vessels of various shipping companies and all kinds of logistics facilities at Chittagong Port are being prepared for this project. The National Revenue Board is also ready to provide financial assistance to support this transition. So, container transport via the waterway can proceed without any problem."
He requested all importers and exporters, including BGMEA and BKMEA members, to take necessary measures to use Pangaon Inland Container Terminal and the Chattogram-Dhaka sea route to maintain the flow of trade.
The Chittagong Port Authority will provide additional support as needed, he added.
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