Importers disinterested to take delivery of containers from off-docks

CHATTOGRAM, June 13: Decision by the government to shift containers from Chittagong Port to warehouses or off-docks has financially benefited owners of off-docks made the importers losers, alleged importers.
The importers are showing reluctance to move their imported goods from jetties of Chittagong Port to privately-owned inland container depots or off-docks in protest against hiking of charge by owners of the depots.
The owners of the depots or off-docks are the most benefited by the government decision to shift the containers from jetties of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to off docks, said importers of the goods, including leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). A lion's shar of the goods were kept at the jetties by garment factory owners.
Talking with the FE, the importers alleged that private storage owners were taking exorbitant charges from them as rent for clearing the containers and keeping their goods at their depots since last year.
During a series of meetings with owners of the private depots early this year and last year, the government and the importers demanded that they reduce the rent for keeping goods at their depots or warehouses, bringing the rate at par with the rate of the CPA.
At present, the private depot owners charge Tk 13,755 as rent for each container equivalent to 20 TEUs while that charged by the CPA is Tk 4.061, port sources said. On the other hand, the private depot owners charge Tk 18,092 as rent for each containers equivalent to 40 TEUs while that charged by the government is Tk 5,699.
All they meetings went in vain as the owners did not reduce the rate, alleged the importers.
Contacted, President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam said, the importers are suffering a lot during due to coronavirus outbreak. There was almost no business the last few months for coronavirus pandemic in the world, he noted. The importers will be severely losers if they are forced to shift their containers to off-docks by paying more charges, he added.
First Vice President of BGMEA MA Salam said, the government has taken the decision to shift containers from Chittagong Port to off-docks to ease the container congestion during the coronavirus outbreak. "However, there is no container congestion at Chittagong Port now. Moreover, the volume of imported goods had decreased in the last two months for the visrus pandemic. So, the government should consider the matter."
Joint Secretary of C & F Agents Association Kazi Mahamud Imam Bilu said, "No importer wants to take delivery of their containers as the expenditure of delivery is Tk 20,000 per container. Moreover, there are no adequate equipments for moving the containers."
Talking with the FE a good number of importers said that they are not interested to take delivery of their containers from off-docks by paying additional charges. They urged to the CPA and the shipping ministry to take step to reduce charges at the off-docks.

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