As a large number of containers and cargo causing operational disruptions at port yards, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has urged businesses to collect their imports promptly, including during public holidays.
Businesses have also been asked to collect the boxes and cargo during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays to ensure a smooth supply chain of essential commodities and help maintain stable prices, said officials.
The CPA made the request in a letter on Thursday to the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Customs Agent Association.
The port authority said around 26,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of full containers are currently stockpiled in the yards, along with a large volume of un-stuffed cargo stored at various cargo freight station (CFS) sheds.
This increased volume of boxes and goods is hindering port operations, said the authority.
"To ensure the uninterrupted loading and unloading of containers from ships and maintain the supply chain of essential goods, the delivery of cargo from port yards and CFS needs to be expedited," the CPA letter mentioned.
Besides, the letter noted that containers holding raw materials for the garment industry, hazardous cargo and frozen food need to be collected on weekdays and public holidays (including Friday, Saturday and Sunday) to free up space in the port yards.
The CPA said if importers expedite cargo collection before and after Eid by keeping their warehouses operational, the port can handle a higher influx of ships and containers using existing facilities.
The letter also said that the port authority is prepared to deliver containers and cargo round-the-clock.
A senior CPA official told The Financial Express on Friday that the port's storage fees are "very low", which incentivises some importers to keep their containers and cargo at the port yard eventually leading to congestion.
The country's prime seaport has a total capacity of 53,518 TEUs of boxes, with around 29,056 TEUs currently occupying the yards.
syful-islam@outlook.com