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The Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners’ Association (BCVOA) and the Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh (COAB) have urged the government to immediately implement the National Logistics Policy 2024, particularly its rules on cargo movement by vessels.

At a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday, BCVOA General Secretary Mehbub Kabir outlined a series of demands, including forming the board of the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) based on majority representation, clearing Tk 2.11 billion in unpaid demurrage, settling all outstanding transport fees, stopping the use of vessels as floating warehouses, and ensuring that all ships operate strictly in sequence as mandated by the new logistics policy.

Mehbub said vessel owners are following the serial system, but a syndicate of cargo agents continues to bypass the queue.
“While we wait two to three months for a single trip, these non-serial vessels transport goods illegally several times a month. Some factories are also hiring chartered vessels in violation of the policy,” he said.

He added that a large portion of payments owed by cargo agents—nearly Tk 2 billion in transport charges and Tk 2.11 billion in demurrage settled until 2023—remains stuck despite earlier decisions and committee recommendations.

Because of the mounting dues, many owners have been forced to scrap vessels, and thousands of workers have already lost their jobs, he warned. If the crisis persists, a severe shortage of vessels could hit the sector.

The associations also pointed out that the National Logistics Policy requires representation on the policymaking committee proportionate to the number of vessels owned, but this has yet to be implemented.

Mehbub said the authorities must resolve the crisis within 15 days, warning:
“If vessel operations stop after 15 days, the responsibility will lie entirely with the authorities.”