The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is seeking the intervention of the Ministry of Shipping to limit the increased handling charges on import and export goods at private inland container depots (ICDs).
According to the media, the organization sent a letter to the minister of state for shipping on Monday, opposing the decision of ICDs to set higher container handling charges.
The letter read that according to ICD policy-2016, a tariff committee needs to be formed to set the charges of ICDs but the private ICDs are unilaterally levying higher charges on containers without any approval of a tariff committee.
The trade body also requested the ministry to take urgent steps against the charge hike to continue Bangladesh’s export growth amidst the ongoing domestic economic crisis.
Shahidullah Azim, acting president of the BGMEA told the media that private ICDs are increasing container handling charges by 35% on imported goods and 25% on exported goods, without consulting BGMEA).
Earlier on 4 November, private ICDs increased handling charges by 23% on import and export goods unilaterally which impacted the export-import businesses and the country is lagging behind in a competitive global market.
It should be prevented from happening again, he added.
On 11 August, private ICDs increased the handling charge on imported goods by 35% citing the fuel oil price hike.
Comment here