Trade bodies protest Ctg port tariff hike effective from October 15

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 12: After a one-month deferral, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is set to implement a tariff hike on port services from 15 October, marking the first increase in nearly four decades. The move has drawn strong opposition from trade bodies, exporters, importers, and port users, who fear it will raise costs, fuel inflation, and undermine export competitiveness.
Earlier on September 14, the CPA issued a circular announcing increased charge across various port services. Following pressure from the business community, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain announced on September 20 that the government had postponed the tariff hike for a month.
According to the CPA circular, all listed shipping agents must now obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) for incoming vessels only after ensuring that sufficient funds, calculated at the new higher rate, are deposited in their scheduled bank accounts.
Meanwhile, aggrieved businessmen involved in Chattogram port operations held an emergency meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chattogram on Sunday to protest the decision. Representatives of trade bodies, exporters, importers, clearing and forwarding agents, and shipping agents attended the meeting.
The business leaders decided to submit a memorandum to the chief adviser (CA) and the shipping adviser of the interim government, urging them to postpone the tariff hike.
"We have requested the CA's intervention in this matter," said Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, former president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Trade leaders warned that the new tariff would fuel inflation, increase import costs, and put additional pressure on consumers and industries already struggling with high operational expenses.
Amirul Haque, former FBCCI director and managing director of Seacom Group, said the "abnormal rise" in port tariffs and other operational costs was a major concern for businesses.
"The decision was made without consulting the business community," he added. Chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) Syed Mohammad Arif also opposed the hike.
"We don't agree with the proposed increases across various service categories. Now is not the right time for such a move -- it will hurt trade and business," he said, urging reconsideration of the decision.
Senior Vice President of the Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI) AM Mahbub Chowdhury added that the new tariff structure would "increase consumer suffering, fuel inflation, and negatively affect commodity prices."
Earlier, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and BSAA both wrote to the CPA requesting it not to implement the hike.
According to BSAA, the revised rates raise key service fees -- such as port entry, pilotage, and loading and unloading charges -- from almost 50 per cent to more than double.
In its protest letter, BSAA said the CPA continues to operate in a monopoly market while its infrastructure, efficiency, and service quality remain below international standards.
It warned that the new rates could lead foreign principals to divert vessels to other regional ports, increasing import costs and weakening the competitiveness of Bangladeshi exports.

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