Private depots to handle all garment imports from today
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Jasim Uddin Haroon
All garment imports will be handled by private depots instead of the Chittagong port with a view to expediting cargo movements, officials working at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) told the FE.
The new system will be effective from today (Sunday), the officials confirmed the FE Saturday.
This will reduce container congestion at the country's largest seaport, sources said.
So far, the Chittagong port used to handle all back-to-back imports at its yards.
Local clothing manufacturers face many troubles including paying of speed money as well as bureaucratic tangles while taking delivery of their goods from the port yards.
Senior port officials said they have already taken all necessary steps to follow the new order.
Director of traffic department at the Chittagong port Golam Sarwar said: "From now on all garment cargoes will be shifted to private depots from the hook point of ships."
Local garment makers import over 100,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) or more than 16 per cent of total imports a year.
President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said: "This is a very bold step to promote the sector."
He however said there needs to be strong regulatory watch so that none can capitalise on the new step.
He urged the depots not to make any cartel-like situation to take 'illogical demands' in terms of rents and handling charges.
President of BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Salim Osman welcomed the move saying "this will help grow the sub-sector."
"We'll be more competitive through the new move taken by the NBR," he added.
President of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Qayum Khan said: "We'll now be able to delivery goods at the shortest possible time."
He said their procedures for delivery are less time-consuming than the port's.
He also said their depots are also ready to handle the new assignment from today.
"We think that consignees will take a few days to be accustomed with the new system," said Mr Qayum, who is also chairman of QNS, a leading depot.
The country has 19 inland container depots located within 20-kilometre radius of the Chittagong port. All of them are owned by private firms including leading groups such as KDS, Summit, Essac Brothers and Port Link.
The depots handled a total of 413,000 TEUs of containers in 2011. They also handled 35,000 TEUs of empty containers in the just concluded calendar year.
The government first allowed nine import items during 2006.
Later in 2010, the government also allowed eight import items to avoid congestion at the port and facilitate trade.
All garment imports will be handled by private depots instead of the Chittagong port with a view to expediting cargo movements, officials working at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) told the FE.
The new system will be effective from today (Sunday), the officials confirmed the FE Saturday.
This will reduce container congestion at the country's largest seaport, sources said.
So far, the Chittagong port used to handle all back-to-back imports at its yards.
Local clothing manufacturers face many troubles including paying of speed money as well as bureaucratic tangles while taking delivery of their goods from the port yards.
Senior port officials said they have already taken all necessary steps to follow the new order.
Director of traffic department at the Chittagong port Golam Sarwar said: "From now on all garment cargoes will be shifted to private depots from the hook point of ships."
Local garment makers import over 100,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) or more than 16 per cent of total imports a year.
President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said: "This is a very bold step to promote the sector."
He however said there needs to be strong regulatory watch so that none can capitalise on the new step.
He urged the depots not to make any cartel-like situation to take 'illogical demands' in terms of rents and handling charges.
President of BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Salim Osman welcomed the move saying "this will help grow the sub-sector."
"We'll be more competitive through the new move taken by the NBR," he added.
President of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Qayum Khan said: "We'll now be able to delivery goods at the shortest possible time."
He said their procedures for delivery are less time-consuming than the port's.
He also said their depots are also ready to handle the new assignment from today.
"We think that consignees will take a few days to be accustomed with the new system," said Mr Qayum, who is also chairman of QNS, a leading depot.
The country has 19 inland container depots located within 20-kilometre radius of the Chittagong port. All of them are owned by private firms including leading groups such as KDS, Summit, Essac Brothers and Port Link.
The depots handled a total of 413,000 TEUs of containers in 2011. They also handled 35,000 TEUs of empty containers in the just concluded calendar year.
The government first allowed nine import items during 2006.
Later in 2010, the government also allowed eight import items to avoid congestion at the port and facilitate trade.