The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has proposed to release all imported goods from the private ICD during the lockdown to keep the container free from container clutter. The chairman of the port authority has written a letter to the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in this regard. To keep activities going during lockdown, a meeting was held at Chattogram port.
Representatives of various stakeholder organisations including Customs, BGMEA, BKMEA, Shipping Agents Association, C&F Agents Association were present at the meeting held at the conference room of Chattogram port. During the meeting, port chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan agreed to deliver all imported goods from private container depots during lockdown. “A letter has been sent to the NBR chairman in this regard,” he said.
Meanwhile, Syed Nazrul Islam, first vice-president of BGMEA, said, “The garment industry is in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Factories are closing. Buyers are canceling or suspending orders. At this time, it is not possible to unload products from the private ICD with extra charge.”
Chattogram Port Secretary Mr. Mohammad Omar Faruk said, “Last year, the slowdown in container delivery due to COVID-19 and lockdown created a terrible container jam at the port, and a lot of difficulties were faced trying to come out of the situation. High-ranking government officials also had to hold meetings to decide what to do in the situation that arose. At that time all the containers were taken directly to the private container depot and the problem was solved by unloading them from there. Therefore, a letter has been sent to the NBR as a precaution so that the lockdown announced from 1 July does not result in the past situation being repeated.”
