New private ICD goes into operation next week
Jasim Uddin Haroon | Monday, 25 August 2008
A private inland container depot, set to be largest within nine months, will kick off its operation next week, seeking to grab a bigger slice of the country's growing container trade, its owner said Sunday.
Yussuf Abdullah Harun, an ex-chief of Bangladesh's top chamber, said the first phase of his Incontrade ICD-- situated at east Patenga, just two kilometers from the Chittagong Port-- has already been built and started trial operation.
The ICD has been set up at a cost of Tk1.00 billion and has a capacity to handle more than 150,000 containers a year, which is 15 per cent of the Twenty Feet containers handled by the port in 2007-8 financial year, Harun said.
"This will be country's largest ICD after we introduce barge operations within nine months. This is the first private ICD in the country to have provision for riverine transport," he said.
Built on 23-acres of land on the estuary of the river Karnaphuli, Incontrade also houses the country's single largest container freight stations (CFS), which helps the consignees to locate their imported items easily.
Presently, Essack Brothers Container Depot, located near Chittagong Customs House and has a capacity to handle over 150,000 containers, is the largest private ICD in the country.
At present, there are now 15 private ICDs in operation in and around Chiottagong port.
Harun said Incontrade would help ease congestion at the Chittagong port, which handles more than 90 percent of the country's nearly US$35 billion foreign trade, by speeding up shipment of inbound and outbound cargoes.
ICD provides port services to the consignees where export cargoes are stuffed and import cargoes are un-stuffed for delivery purposes.
"Our rates are very competitive. We hope it will reduce shipment cost and make the country's export goods competitive in world market," Harun, a former president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said.
It will also ensure uninterrupted transportation between Dhaka and Chittagong, the country's main economic corridor, he said, adding the terminal has been built with a cutting-edge technology.
"We have designed the terminal with local and foreign consultants keeping in mind security, environment and tidal surge of the Bay of Bengal. It is earthquake and tsunami-resistant," he said.
A computerised Electronic Weightbridge with a weight of 150 tonnes has been installed at the depot for weighing cargoes and vehicles to ensure accuracy in receipt and delivery of shipments.
The Weightbridge would help prevent tax evasion and proper account of the cargoes, Harun said.
The ICD is equipped with modern container handling equipment along with fire fighting equipment, close circuit camera and stand by power generation.
It has access to the customs department's main computer network.
Yussuf Abdullah Harun, an ex-chief of Bangladesh's top chamber, said the first phase of his Incontrade ICD-- situated at east Patenga, just two kilometers from the Chittagong Port-- has already been built and started trial operation.
The ICD has been set up at a cost of Tk1.00 billion and has a capacity to handle more than 150,000 containers a year, which is 15 per cent of the Twenty Feet containers handled by the port in 2007-8 financial year, Harun said.
"This will be country's largest ICD after we introduce barge operations within nine months. This is the first private ICD in the country to have provision for riverine transport," he said.
Built on 23-acres of land on the estuary of the river Karnaphuli, Incontrade also houses the country's single largest container freight stations (CFS), which helps the consignees to locate their imported items easily.
Presently, Essack Brothers Container Depot, located near Chittagong Customs House and has a capacity to handle over 150,000 containers, is the largest private ICD in the country.
At present, there are now 15 private ICDs in operation in and around Chiottagong port.
Harun said Incontrade would help ease congestion at the Chittagong port, which handles more than 90 percent of the country's nearly US$35 billion foreign trade, by speeding up shipment of inbound and outbound cargoes.
ICD provides port services to the consignees where export cargoes are stuffed and import cargoes are un-stuffed for delivery purposes.
"Our rates are very competitive. We hope it will reduce shipment cost and make the country's export goods competitive in world market," Harun, a former president of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said.
It will also ensure uninterrupted transportation between Dhaka and Chittagong, the country's main economic corridor, he said, adding the terminal has been built with a cutting-edge technology.
"We have designed the terminal with local and foreign consultants keeping in mind security, environment and tidal surge of the Bay of Bengal. It is earthquake and tsunami-resistant," he said.
A computerised Electronic Weightbridge with a weight of 150 tonnes has been installed at the depot for weighing cargoes and vehicles to ensure accuracy in receipt and delivery of shipments.
The Weightbridge would help prevent tax evasion and proper account of the cargoes, Harun said.
The ICD is equipped with modern container handling equipment along with fire fighting equipment, close circuit camera and stand by power generation.
It has access to the customs department's main computer network.