Container congestion increased in Chattogram port

For the first time since the onset of the corona outbreak, container congestion has increased in the Chattogram port. This congestion of containers has been caused by the increase in imports of consumer goods ahead of Ramadan and the slowdown in the unloading of containers of goods.

The importers said that the container congestion at Chattogram port has been getting more and more complicated for the last four days. As a result, the ships have to stay in the outer anchorage for a long time as they are not able to unload the goods. As a result, importers have to pay extra fare per container.

The importers said that there is an opportunity to keep the containers of imported goods from the ship in the port yard for 4 days without any rent. After 4 days, a container costs $6 per day for the first week, $12 per day for the next week, and $24 per day for 21 days.

Altaf Hossain Bachchu, general secretary of the C&F Agents Association, said many importers would struggle to pay the extra rent as containers had been in the port for a long time. So during this recession, they need to be given the opportunity to quickly unload containers with incentives.

He said that in Chattogram port where normally 4,500 to 5,000 TEU containers were delivered daily, now it has come down to 3,000. However, about 49,000 TEU containers have been stored in the port.

Nazmul Karim Chowdhury, director of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the cost would also go up if the ships were waiting at the outer anchorage due to the slow pace of container unloading. Because the ship's penalty has to be paid by the shipowner. Just as the port authorities need sincerity to solve this, we port users also need to be more sincere.

The traders complained that although the port was open all the week, the discounts were reduced due to the closure of banking activities on Friday and Saturday. Container clutter will not be reduced if important departments including banks and customs are not operational on the day of closure.

And due to this entanglement, import and export trade is being disrupted. The prices of imported goods are increasing. Production is also being disrupted due to untimely receipt of raw materials. As a result, traders are facing financial loss.

When contacted, Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Omar Farooq said, “We urge importers to reduce the congestion of containers so that their cargoes can be delivered as soon as possible.” If they do not unload the containers within the stipulated time, we can impose penal rent up to four times against them. That is what the port authorities are considering now.