Private inland container depots stop transporting export goods

Owners of private Inland Container Depots (ICDs) have stopped transporting export goods through the containers of three foreign container shipping companies since Wednesday morning over due payment.

They said they have not got their payment for handling the containers from the companies for two months.

The companies are Denmark-based leading shipping lines Maersk, Hong Kong-based companies Gold Star Line and Orient Overseas Container Line. 

These three companies carry around 70 per cent of the country's total export cargoes, according to Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association.

Director of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) Khairul Alam said, a discussion led by the shipping ministry has been going on for  raising service tariff.  The owners stopped transporting goods through the containers of three companies without any announcement, while such a discussion is going on. As a result, readymade garments for 2000 containers which arrived at the depots carrying export products of readymade garment industries in the depots. 

"Meanwhile, a negative affect has begun in the foreign trade due to the coronavirus, this type of decision of depots owners, will create more unstable condition in the export sector," he added.

The situation was disrupting timely shipment, said local representative of Gold Star Line and Senior General Manager of Trident Shipping Line Delwar Hossain.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Ruhul Amin Shikder said the three organisations did not pay container handling charges to the Inland Container Depots' owners. They are not receiving the container handling bills also.  So the depots' owners had taken the step, said Ruhul. 

Export goods from different parts of the country are first brought to the depots in Chattogram. Then the products are loaded on to containers for taking to the port for shipment.