Chattogram port waives store rent of garment's containers
The port yard has about 15-20 thousand containers imported by BGMEA and BKMEA which contain raw materials of readymade garments
Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has waived store rent of the containers imported by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) till May 4.
The two organisations will not have to pay any store rent if they take delivery of the goods from the port during this time. The Chattogram Port Transport Department issued a notice in this regard on Monday.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the port had waived store rent on all products from March 27 to April 20. The port again waived the store rent of the containers of the two organisations after BGMEA sent an application.
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According to Chattogram port sources, the port yard has about 15-20 thousand containers imported by BGMEA and BKMEA which contain raw materials of readymade garments.
Earlier, on April 25, the port authorities sent separate letters to the concerned importers, C&F agents and the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries to take delivery of 2,500 containers of Ramadan goods.
Chattogram Port Secretary, OmorFaruk, said, "There are about 15-20 thousand containers imported by BGMEA and BKMEA at Chattogram Port. The store rent has been exempted till May 4 in response to their application."
There were 48,646 containers in the port till 8 am on April 27 against the capacity of 49,014 containers. Also, 15 percent of the capacity has to be left vacant in order to keep the operational activities of the port normal.
Only 2,793 containers were delivered in the last 24 hours in the port. Usually, 4,000 to 4,500 containers are delivered every day.
The delivery of goods from Chattogram port decreased due to the transport crisis and other reasons after a nationwide shutdown was imposed on March 26 to prevent Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result, containers and ships are stuck in the port and the number continues to grow.
In order to ensure uninterrupted unloading of goods, all types of goods have already been transferred to private ICD (Inland Container Depot). The Chattogram Custom House has also been made fully operational despite the pandemic.
The port authorities also sent separate letters to the concerned importers to take delivery of their goods.
