NBR allows pvt ICDs to handle all importables

Private inland container depots (ICDs), also known as off-docks, were allowed to store, unstuff and release all types of imported goods from Chattogram port.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) withdrew on Thursday its restrictions on off-docks temporarily until June 30 to ease congestion at Chattogram port.
To this effect, the customs wing of the NBR issued an order following repeated disruptions to the supply chain of essential goods.
The country's prime seaport is experiencing a huge congestion to release imported goods during the ongoing general holidays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nineteen off-docks or dry ports under the Chattogram Customs House (CCH) are operated by private companies.
Usually, the off-docks are allowed to release some 37 types of goods from the CCH.
On April 18, the NBR allowed the off-docks to store, unstuff or release an additional 736 products under six categories.
As per the latest order, all of the products can now be stored and released from the off-docks in compliance with certain conditions of the NBR.
The order, signed by second secretary (customs policy wing) Mehraj-ul-Alam Shamrat, said this facility is part of a request from shipping ministry.
To shift from the port to off-docks, all commercial products need scanning mandatorily and the off-docks will have to preserve the scanning reports properly.
All goods shifting to off-docks have to go through 100 per cent physical examination under the supervision of representatives of both CCH and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
The off-docks will then take necessary measures on those goods based on the CCH and CIID reports.
According to a senior customs official, the off-docks are usually allowed to handle products involving lower revenue due to a risk of losing revenue. There is a doubt about the handling capacity of imported goods and availability of equipment of the ICDs, he said.
"We've opened up all products on a temporary basis following a proposal of the shipping ministry to ease congestion in the port," the official told the FE.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) officials said congestion in the port is easing gradually from April 21 following the withdrawal of a waiver of store rent.
CPA director (traffic) Enamul Karim said an estimated 2,227 consignments of products were released on Wednesday and the flow remained the same on Thursday.
On average, the port releases some 3,496 containers per day. But it has declined to 962 containers now.
Mahfuzul Hoque Shah, convener of internal trade standing committee of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they need coordination with all service providers to release goods from ports.
"This is absent now, causing immense sufferings to businesses," he commented.
Apart from customs, some 20 relevant entities are involved in releasing products from ports.
Until April 22, some 49,974 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) import containers reached Chattogram port against its handling capacity of 49,018 TEU ones.
Earlier, shipping ministry in a letter requested the NBR to allow off-docks to store, unstuff and release 20,000 to 25,000 TEU containers in the port.

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