The government has suspended the recently increased service tariffs at Chattogram port for one month, shipping adviser retired Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain said on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists after a workshop at the Chattogram Port auditorium, he said the decision was made to ease pressure on traders and give them some relief. Tariffs would be brought back later after taking opinions from the stakeholders.
The workshop on customs and port management was organised by the Internal Resources Division. Finance ministry special assistant Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury and NBR chairman Abdur Rahman were present as special speakers.
At the workshop Port users raised a range of problems and challenges, to which the shipping adviser gave instructions to the relevant authorities for solutions.
He also urged all parties to work together to increase the port鈥檚 capacity.
The Chattogram Port Authority last raised tariffs in 1986. For nearly four decades, port service charges remained unchanged.
In June, the CPA formally proposed a 41 percent average increase across different port services. Port users, including freight forwarders and shipping agents, objected during a meeting at the shipping ministry on June 2.
聽On September 14, a government gazette signed by CPA chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman announced the new tariffs.
From September 15, the tariffs were enforced. Container-handling and related charges saw the steepest increases. Port users warned of added pressure on trade costs and consumer prices.