Traders demand suspension of raised charges at Chittagong Port

They claim the port charges have been increased for foreign operators’ “convenience”

Traders have said they will hold talks on demanding the suspension of the new duties for different service sectors at Chittagong Port, two days before they take effect.

This demand was raised at a coordination meeting organised under the banner of “Businessmen of All Levels of Chattogram” at Radisson Blu Hotel, Chattogram Bay View, on Sunday.

The traders also claim the increased charges benefit foreign operators.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) former president Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury said foreign operators were behind the tariff hike and called for their identification.

He urged that any decision on the increased port fees be taken only after consulting traders.

The Chittagong Port Authority had issued a rise in all port fees from Sept 14, with some services seeing increases of up to 41 percent.

Despite objections from port users, the authority went ahead with the hike.

Following discussions, Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain said the new rates would take effect from Oct 14.

Another former CCCI director, Mohammed Amirul Haque, said the higher fees would be borne by ordinary Bangladeshis, including daily wage workers.

He noted that tariffs at Mongla and Payra ports remain unchanged, while at Chittagong they have risen – up to six times in certain sectors.