Chittagong Port faced a temporary halt in transportation of cargo from the off-docks on Monday.
The truck, covered-van, trailer and prime mover operators abstained from entering the off-docks, protesting realisation of extra charges from them by the private inland container depots (ICDs) in Chittagong.
As a result, transportation of cargo for shipment from the off-docks in the port remained suspended for six hours till 2.00 PM on the day.
Loading of export cargo onto the transports for shipment, however, resumed after 2.00 PM following assurance from the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) that the problems will be resolved.
CPA has convened a meeting for all the stakeholders at 10.00 AM today (Tuesday).
The transport operators said the ICDs are taking over Tk 1,000 per vehicle from the transport drivers as 'speed money' for the off-dock workers engaged in loading-unloading as well as gate pass fee and parking fee.
Although the money is taken from the drivers, it has to be paid by the transport owners from their carrying charges, said the leaders of transport owners.
They also said the off-docks are charging Tk 700-800 per vehicle as workers' tips, Tk 50 as gate fee for entry to the off-docks, and Tk 100 as parking fee.
General Secretary of Truck and Covered-van Owners Association Chowdhury Jafar Ahmed said they stopped sending transports to the port from 8.00 AM on Monday.
The authorities concerned failed to settle the problem despite repeated approach to CPA, as the off-docks are operating under them.
