Ctg Port, Metro Chamber propose off-dock container delivery to ease congestion
BGMEA opposes proposal saying it would push up cost four-fold
- Ctg Port has a container storage capacity of 53,518 TEUs
- It handles over 30 lakh TEUs annually, leading to congestion
- 75% of the containers handled at the port belong to RMG sector
- Transferring FCL containers to off-docks could boost the port's capacity by 25-35%
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and the Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI) have proposed delivering imported goods' containers from off-docks (private storage facilities) instead of Chattogram Port to address traffic congestion, handling delays, and other operational challenges at the port.
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On 10 December, CMCCI President Khalilur Rahman sent a letter to the NBR chairman, requesting directives for transferring imported containers to off-docks from Chattogram Port.
CPA noted that Chattogram Port's container storage capacity is 53,518 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), and over 30 lakh TEUs are handled annually. Transferring Full Container Load (FCL) containers to off-docks would enable the port to handle 25-35% more containers using its existing facilities.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has, however, opposed the proposal, arguing that shifting delivery operations to off-docks would increase costs four-fold and severely impact the garment sector.
On 11 December, BGMEA Administrator Anwar Hossain sent a letter to the secretary of the Shipping Ministry, requesting that garment-related import containers continue to be delivered from Chattogram Port rather than private inland container depots (ICDs).
Depot owners, in their response, claimed that delivering containers directly from the port reduces productivity, increases congestion and delays cargo clearance. They pointed out that ships' longer stays result in additional costs, raising questions about who should bear the burden.
Earlier, CPA Secretary Omar Faruq wrote separate letters to the NBR chairman on 5 September and to the Ministry of Shipping on 14 October, requesting directives to transfer, store and deliver all imported FCL containers from Chattogram Port to off-docks.
According to the CPA, 98% of Bangladesh's import cargo is handled through Chattogram Port. Unlike other global ports, Chattogram Port delivers 2,500-3,000 TEUs of FCL containers daily from its premises, resulting in operational challenges. Around 4,000-5,000 trucks and covered vans, along with 10,000-15,000 of manpower, enter the secured yards daily, exacerbating congestion and slowing container handling.
In its letter, the BGMEA noted that approximately 75% of all containers handled at Chattogram Port belong to the garment sector. It criticised the CPA for failing to consult the relevant stakeholders before proposing such a significant change.
The BGMEA warned that implementing this proposal would increase business costs, delay cargo clearance and cause financial losses to industries, potentially forcing some to shut down.
The association claimed that the cost of delivering a container from the port is Tk3,300, while off-dock delivery costs Tk12,605 – almost four times higher.
BGMEA's former vice president Rakibul Alam Chowdhury said off-docks are already struggling to handle export-bound containers.
"Adding all types of imports to their workload would not only increase costs but also lead to massive congestion. We cannot accept such a decision," he added.
Private depots have a storage capacity of around 85,000 TEUs, over 50,000 of which are empty containers. Currently, 17% of the port's total imports are delivered from off-docks, and nearly all export-bound containers are loaded at off-docks.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, said, "The NBR could address the issue by enabling delivery of import containers after scanning at the port yard, off-docks or directly at the importers' factories, providing greater flexibility and efficiency."
He refuted the BGMEA's claim of four-fold higher costs at off-docks, stating that it is not accurate.
