Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association (BSAA) on Wednesday demanded withdrawal of a recent increase in container-handling tariff by 23 per cent at private Inland Container Depots (ICDs).
On November 08, Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), a platform of 18 private off-docks, raised five types of container-handling charges following diesel price hike by 23 per cent to Tk 80 a litre from Tk 65.
Despite opposition from the exporters, BICDA after a members' meeting finalised the rate, effective from November 4, to adjust the increased operational costs.
Terming BSAA and BICDA complementary to each other that are collectively contributing to the country's foreign trade, the shipping agents' association said the increase in container-handling charges would further hamper export-import trade, which had been recovering from the pandemic fallout.
In a letter to the BICDA president, the shipping agents said that the ICD tariff hike was a violation of sections 11.1 and 11.2 of the private ICD/CFS Regulations, 2016 of the Chittagong Port Authority.
They said BICDA didn't discuss with its stakeholders before increasing the tariff - this was purely a monopolistic step and a big blow to the relationship with the stakeholders, especially with the shipping lines.
BSAA requested BICDA to stop invoicing off-dock charges with a 23 per cent increase and invited the latter to sit together to discuss the matter.
After tariff hike by BICDA, the import handling package charge for 20-foot containers has been increased from Tk 7,930 to Tk 9,754, while the charge for the same service has been increased from Tk 9,150 to Tk 11,255 for 40-foot containers.
The export stuffing package charge for 20-foot containers has been increased from Tk 4,140 to Tk 5,092, while the charge for 40-foot containers was increased from Tk 5,520 to Tk 6,790.
Besides, lift on/off charge, VGM charge and Haulage charge have also been increased by 23 per cent.
