CPA reinstates higher port tariffs after High Court lifts stay order
The reinstated tariff is expected to generate additional revenue for the country's premier seaport, which handles over 92% of Bangladesh's seaborne trade.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has officially reinstated the increased tariff rates introduced in September this year, effective immediately, following the disposal of a legal challenge at the High Court.
In a circular issued yesterday (30 November) by the Office of the Chief Finance and Accounting Officer, the CPA announced that all port charges on goods, vessels, and related services will now be collected as per SRO No. 430-Ain/2025 dated 29 October 2025.
The move comes after the High Court Division, on 25 November 2025, disposed of Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal No. 4430/2025 with the earlier 30 day stay order effectively vacated.
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The original tariff hike was first notified through SRO No. 364-Ain/2025 on 14 September 2025 and was scheduled to take effect from the next day.
However, it was diffred for one month by the authority following strong demand from the stakeholders. The tariff hike was later implemented on 15 October.
Following a writ petition a High Court bench ordered a stay on the new tariff for one month on 9 November.
With this notification, the CPA has confirmed that the stay no longer stands, paving the way for the higher tariff structure contained in the September SRO to be applied across all port operations.
Shipping agents and importers had earlier expressed strong reservations about the increased charges, warning of higher logistics costs and potential inflationary pressure on imported goods. Industry bodies are yet to issue fresh statements following the latest development.
The reinstated tariff is expected to generate additional revenue for the country's premier seaport, which handles over 92% of Bangladesh's seaborne trade.
