Written by The Banking Post
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) will enforce its revised tariff structure from midnight on October 14, ending a one-month suspension.
CPA Secretary Md. Omar Faruk confirmed the move, saying the decision had been approved by higher authorities. “Earlier, the CPA suspended collection of the new tariff for a month, but it will now come into effect from midnight of October 14,” he said.
The port authority first announced the new rates on September 14, effective the next day, but later deferred implementation. Officials argue the revision—the first in four decades—was long overdue to reflect trade growth and expanded port services.
According to a fresh circular, all ships, containers, and cargo arriving after October 14 midnight will be charged at the new rates. Clearing and forwarding agents, shipping agents, and other port users will have to pay the revised fees, while shipping agents must secure discharge letters to ensure adequate deposits are made in designated bank accounts.
Currently, the port collects fees in 52 categories, but the new tariff will directly impact 23. Charges will be calculated based on the dollar exchange rate, set at Tk 122 per US dollar, with adjustments for future fluctuations.
Under the revision, fees for a 20-foot container will rise by 37 percent to Tk 16,243 from Tk 11,849. Import containers will cost an additional Tk 5,720, and export containers Tk 3,045 more. Each container movement will also carry an extra charge of about Tk 3,000, resulting in an overall 25 to 41 percent increase in transportation costs.
