Formation of single trade body for freight forwarders faces setback
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Formation of a single trade body for the country's freight forwarders faces setback as cases have been filed in this connection even against the government.
The freight forwarders recently made a proposal to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to form one association merging the International Freight Forwarders Association of Bangladesh (IFFAB) and the Association of Cargo Agents of Bangladesh (ACAB).
They sent memorandum of articles to the MoC for approving the apex body styled Bangladesh Freight Forwarders (BAFFA).
The proposed BAFFA will be comprised of 18 members including president and two vice presidents.
Currently, there are two separate organisations for the freight forwarders one engaged with air shipment and the other make shipment by sea.
Earlier, the joint forces asked the freight forwarders to merge the two organisations so that a single association could protect the interests of the importers and exporters in case of lost of consignments.
But a meeting of trade organisation under the MoC held Monday last asked the freight forwarders to settle the cases filed against the government challenging the charges fixed by the MoC in 2003.
The meeting was presided over by the department of trade organisation (TO) director Mahbuba Morshed.
Senior freight forwarders including Amirul Islam Mizan, captain Saiful Islam, Helal Uddin Akbar and Badrul Hoque were present at the meeting.
In the meantime, a section of freight forwarders wanted to establish the headquarters of the proposed BAFFA in Dhaka and others are in favour of Chittagong.
Senior leader of the IFFAB Amirul Islam Mizan told the FE that those who filed cases against the fixed charges set by the government were not members of his organisation.
He also said the BAFFA head office should be located in the port city as 90 per cent freight forwarding businesses are done through the Chittagong port.
However, president of ACAB captain Saiful Islam expressed reluctance to comment on the head office and he added: "the members will select the suitable site for the BAFFA".
ACAB president said delay in formation of the BAFFA will not affect the licensing procedures once the statutory regulatory order is published.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing guidelines for issuing licences to the freight forwarders.
Badrul Hoque, a senior leader of the proposed BAFFA said members will choose the location of the head office through secret ballots.
Formation of a single trade body for the country's freight forwarders faces setback as cases have been filed in this connection even against the government.
The freight forwarders recently made a proposal to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to form one association merging the International Freight Forwarders Association of Bangladesh (IFFAB) and the Association of Cargo Agents of Bangladesh (ACAB).
They sent memorandum of articles to the MoC for approving the apex body styled Bangladesh Freight Forwarders (BAFFA).
The proposed BAFFA will be comprised of 18 members including president and two vice presidents.
Currently, there are two separate organisations for the freight forwarders one engaged with air shipment and the other make shipment by sea.
Earlier, the joint forces asked the freight forwarders to merge the two organisations so that a single association could protect the interests of the importers and exporters in case of lost of consignments.
But a meeting of trade organisation under the MoC held Monday last asked the freight forwarders to settle the cases filed against the government challenging the charges fixed by the MoC in 2003.
The meeting was presided over by the department of trade organisation (TO) director Mahbuba Morshed.
Senior freight forwarders including Amirul Islam Mizan, captain Saiful Islam, Helal Uddin Akbar and Badrul Hoque were present at the meeting.
In the meantime, a section of freight forwarders wanted to establish the headquarters of the proposed BAFFA in Dhaka and others are in favour of Chittagong.
Senior leader of the IFFAB Amirul Islam Mizan told the FE that those who filed cases against the fixed charges set by the government were not members of his organisation.
He also said the BAFFA head office should be located in the port city as 90 per cent freight forwarding businesses are done through the Chittagong port.
However, president of ACAB captain Saiful Islam expressed reluctance to comment on the head office and he added: "the members will select the suitable site for the BAFFA".
ACAB president said delay in formation of the BAFFA will not affect the licensing procedures once the statutory regulatory order is published.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing guidelines for issuing licences to the freight forwarders.
Badrul Hoque, a senior leader of the proposed BAFFA said members will choose the location of the head office through secret ballots.