BusinessToday24 Correspondent, Chattogram: Charges in various service sectors at the Chattogram Port are set to increase. To this end, the Ministry of Shipping has convened a meeting next Monday to review the proposed tariff structure of the port authority. Representatives from the port authority, Chittagong Chamber, and other port user organizations have been requested to attend the meeting.
The meeting will begin at 3:30 PM at the Ministry of Shipping’s conference room. The proposed new tariff structure was prepared by a Spain-based consulting firm, and Monday’s meeting will focus on this proposal. A port authority official noted that many years have passed since the last tariff hike, while operational costs in different sectors of the port have significantly increased. The tariff revision has been pending for a long time, and it is hoped that a final decision will be made this time.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) strongly opposed the proposed tariff structure, stating that it is not aligned with current commercial realities and the country’s economic context. According to them, the new tariff would adversely impact foreign trade and significantly raise business costs, thus negatively affecting the overall business environment in Bangladesh.
The BSAA pointed out that the proposed structure includes sharp increases in several key charges, such as port entry fees, pilotage charges, and loading/unloading charges—ranging from around 50 percent to more than double. For example, the entry fee for a vessel of 18,102 GT is currently USD 4,362 and is proposed to be raised to USD 6,834—a hike of over 56 percent. Similarly, pilotage charges are proposed to increase by approximately 96 percent, and loading/unloading charges by 80 to 100 percent. The BSAA expressed concern that these additional costs would place a massive financial burden on shipping agents and businesses.
In a letter of objection submitted to the port authority, the BSAA mentioned that the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) still operates in a monopolistic environment where facilities, infrastructure, efficiency, and international service standards remain lacking. In such a situation, increasing charges is unjustified and would reduce competitiveness in the logistics and trade sectors. They further warned that port service charges in Bangladesh are already higher than in many other South Asian ports, and the new rates could push businesses into a critical situation.
BSAA Acting Chairman Syed Iqbal Ali said, “In a developing country where GDP growth, railway and road connectivity, and port modernization are still in the development phase, following international benchmarks to increase tariffs is not business-friendly. It will make the business climate more difficult and have adverse impacts on the national economy.”
The BSAA has submitted a 16-point recommendation, including:
Reducing storage charges for empty containers.
Including the watchman booking fee within the tariff framework.
Eliminating charges for old and non-functional jetty cranes.
Addressing the unfair practice of charging power bills for reefer containers to consignees instead of agents.
Ensuring rational and accountable policies for determining shifting charges.
The BSAA clearly stated that before implementing the new tariff, the port must improve its infrastructure and service quality to meet international standards. Otherwise, the business community will be compelled to protest and launch movements against the new tariff. As a result, concerns are mounting over the overall business environment, and stakeholders have urged for swift action by the authorities.
