Written by The Banking Post
Businesses and port users have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the withdrawal of the recently increased tariffs at Chittagong Port. They warned that failure to meet the demand would lead to a shutdown of the country’s main seaport.
The ultimatum came from a protest rally held on Saturday at the Navy Convention Centre in the port city, where exporters, importers, and logistics operators expressed strong opposition to the 41% tariff hike that took effect on October 15.
Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, president of the Port Users Forum and former president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said, “We are giving the government one week to withdraw the increased tariff. If action is not taken within that time, the port will be shut down.”
He noted that the forum had already submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser on October 14 but had yet to receive a response. “The tariff hike will not only hurt Chattogram-based businesses but will also impact traders and consumers across the country,” he added.
As part of the protest, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent employees announced they would observe a symbolic four-hour work stoppage daily starting Sunday.
Business leader Amirul Haque, managing director of Seacom Group and former FBCCI director, said while some tariff revisions may be justified, the recent increases were arbitrary. “Let’s sit and discuss what’s reasonable. I object to the 300% hike in the gate pass fee for heavy transport,” he said, questioning, “Why should a driver have to pay just to take a vehicle and clear goods from the port?”
Other business leaders, including BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Ahmed and International Business Forum of Chattogram (IBFC) President SM Abu Tayeb, also called for immediate suspension of the new tariff structure. They warned that continued inaction could lead to a total halt of port operations, disrupting the country’s export and import activities.
Meanwhile, container and goods transport operators have already stopped all vehicle entry to the port from Saturday morning, protesting what they termed an “arbitrary” increase in the entry fee.
According to transport association leaders, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) issued an order on October 13 raising the entry fee for heavy vehicles from Tk 57.50 to Tk 230, including VAT. They said the decision was made “forcibly” and without consulting key stakeholders, even though they handle about 85% of the port’s cargoes.
“We have protested this arbitrary decision before and urged the port to withdraw it, but no action was taken,” the associations said in a joint statement.
CPA officials, however, claimed that port operations remained normal on Saturday, though some trailer owners were allegedly obstructing vehicle movement.
