Ctg port suspends entry fee hike for cargo vehicles amid protests

The move follows two days of protests that brought cargo operations at the country's busiest port to a standstill

Authorities at Chattogram Port have suspended the recently increased entry fees for trucks, covered vans and prime movers following two days of protests that brought cargo operations to a standstill.

The decision was announced on Sunday during a meeting between port officials and leaders of transport owners’ and workers’ associations at the port’s main office. The move came amid protests over a nearly fourfold rise in vehicle-entry fees.

Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), and senior officials attended the meeting.

Following the talks, transport leaders agreed to resume operations, allowing thousands of waiting vehicles to enter the port.

“In the interest of the national economy, the increased entry fee for vehicles at the port will remain suspended until a further decision is made,” Md Omar Faruk, the port's secretary after the meeting.

He added that the matter would be reviewed in consultation with the Ministry of Shipping, which would make a final decision on whether to re-fix the tariff rates.

The decision means previous fees will remain in place, but no changes have yet been announced regarding other service charges that were also raised under the new tariff schedule.

Business groups had earlier criticised the new rates, which took effect on Oct 15, raising various service charges at the port by up to 41 percent. The entry fee for cargo vehicles had increased from Tk 57 to Tk 230 per vehicle.

In response, truck, covered-van, and prime mover owners suspended vehicle entry from Saturday, while the C&F Agents’ Association observed a four-hour work stoppage on Sunday in protest.

The combined action disrupted container handling, transport, and delivery inside the country’s busiest seaport, prompting port authorities to call Sunday’s emergency meeting to avert further economic impact.

Following the meeting, Md Shamsuzzaman Suman, port affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Covered Van, Truck and Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners’ Association, said: “The meeting decided to suspend the increased entry fee. Immediately afterwards, we instructed all our members to return to work.”