NBR allows delivery of Kamalapur bound containers from Ctg port, Pangaon
Importers will get the facility till 31 October
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has granted permission for the delivery of 1,856 containers with imported goods intended for Dhaka's Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Kamalapur either from Chittagong Port or Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT).
This decision comes in response to the severe container congestion of Dhaka bound containers at Chittagong Port caused by the recent political situation, which has disrupted rail transportation.
Importers will be able to avail of this opportunity until 31 October, under four specified conditions, the NBR said in a directive issued yesterday.
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Earlier, the Chattogram Port Authority sought instructions from the NBR regarding such a facility that needed amendments to the Import General Manifest (IGM).
For the release of goods, importers must submit an application to the relevant customs houses – Chattogram Custom House, ICD Custom House, or Pangaon Custom House – detailing the list of containers and preferred release locations.
Containers transferred from Chattogram Port to Pangaon ICT must be transported by water, managed by the Chattogram Port Authority.
After containers are unloaded from ships at Chattogram Port, importers usually take delivery from the port yard.
Alternatively, they may have the containers transported by ship to Pangaon ICT in Keraniganj, Dhaka, or by train to Dhaka ICD in Kamalapur.
However, the recent political situation in the country led to the suspension of rail transport at several points, resulting in Dhaka-bound containers becoming stuck at Chattogram Port.
Chattogram Port has a capacity of 800 TEUs for containers bound for Kamalapur. However, during the disruption, this number surged to 2,700 TEUs, significantly worsening the congestion.
In light of this situation, Mustafa Kamal, senior secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, visited Chittagong Port and initiated discussions at the highest levels of government to address the crisis.
Following these discussions, NBR approved delivery of Dhaka ICD bound containers from Chattogram Port and Pangaon ICT.
