The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has decided to increase tariffs by an average of 30 per cent on import and export activities, aiming to align with global standards and boost revenue, said Shipping adviser M Sakhawat Hossain.
Speaking to reporters on Friday morning after inspecting the New Mooring Container Terminal in Chittagong Port, the adviser said the tariff hike was not a unilateral decision.
鈥榃e have increased the tariff in consultation with inter-ministerial bodies and stakeholders. Even after the hike, the port鈥檚 tariff rates remain significantly lower than many major global ports, and even less than Mongla port.鈥�
鈥楾his is the first time the tariff has been revised since 1986. Just think about how much the value of taka has changed since then. The revised tariffs will enhance revenue, although we understand that it will also increase costs for businesses,鈥� he added.
Highlighting the government鈥檚 ambition to elevate Chittagong Port to international standards, the adviser said, 鈥業f we want to bring the port into the global arena, we must embrace international operational standards. Even if terminal operations are handed over to foreign operators, overall control and administration will remain with the government.鈥�
M Sakhawat Hossain said, 鈥楳ost ports in Singapore are run privately. To improve efficiency, we must adopt external technologies. We are already operating efficiently, but to go further, international collaboration is necessary.鈥�
On July 7, The Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), a Bangladesh Navy-run entity, took over operations of the NCT from Saif Powertec Ltd. Since then, container handling at the terminal has increased by nearly 13 per cent, with an average of 3,200 twen ty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) now being handled daily.
鈥楩or the interim period, we have handed over the NCT to Dry Dock Limited, which is operating in coordination with the Navy. I鈥檓 very pleased to learn that they have achieved an average growth of 13 per cent compared with previous operations. This is a significant improvement, and I hope they will be able to sustain this progress,鈥� said the shipping adviser.
During the visit, the shipping adviser also inaugurated a new international-standard chemical shed at the port. CPA chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman and other senior officials were present at the event.
Revenue generated from the port tariff enables the Chattogram Port to operate as a self-financing entity. The port authority utilises its own income to carry out development activities, including the construction of new jetties and terminals, as well as the procurement of equipment, ensuring continuous infrastructural and operational enhancement.
Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, a former vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the governmental move to hike port tariff is illogical and to absorb the additional cost would be almost impossible for the businesses.
Hiking the port tariff without any consultation with the port users cannot be considered business-friendly, he added, saying that in the meantime, the government also didn鈥檛 improve the port services.
He also said that to run the businesses and make new investments would be tough amid such 鈥榩olicy and infrastructure uncertainty鈥�.
