Land port service fees increased by 5%, effective from 1 Jan

The Bangladesh Land Port Authority has increased service fees at all land ports in the country by 5%, with the new rates taking effect from 1 January, according to a notification issued by the authority.

Separate notifications have been issued for Benapole Land Port, where fees are slightly higher than at other ports.

The revised rates apply to taxes, tolls, and fees charged for different services, as per the notifications signed by Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Mohammad Manzarul Mannan.

At Benapole land port, the passenger fee has been set at Tk52.27 for 2026, up from Tk49.79 in 2025. Entry fees for imported buses, trucks, and lorries have increased to Tk184.70 from Tk175.90, while the fee for motor cars, jeeps, pickups, and three-wheelers is now Tk110.82, up from Tk105.54.

The charge for motorcycles and bicycles has risen to Tk36.95 from Tk25.19. The weighing scale fee for trucks and lorries at Benapole is Tk88.65, while document processing now costs Tk195.07.

Vehicles staying in the warehouse area will be charged Tk111.49. Storage fees for goods have also increased depending on the duration of stay. The facility to store goods free of charge for the first three days at Benapole remains in effect. After that, warehouse and yard rents will apply progressively. For general goods, the daily warehouse rent per tonne has been set at Tk13.98, up from Tk13.31.

Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, said, "The tariff is increasing every year, but the port's infrastructure and services are not improving at that rate. This is increasing the cost of doing business."

Business leaders said a large volume of goods imported through Benapole is linked to the country's industries and consumer markets, and the higher fees could affect the supply chain and market prices. Fees at other land ports have also been increased by 5%. The passenger fee at ports other than Benapole is now Tk52.27, up from Tk49.79. Entry fees for buses, trucks, and lorries have risen to Tk153.58 from Tk146.27, while motor cars and jeeps will be charged Tk76.83.

The new fee for motorcycles, bicycles, and three-wheelers is Tk18.43. Manual offloading inside yard areas will now cost Tk76.83 per tonne, up from Tk73.10, while offloading by equipment has increased to Tk153.54 per tonne from Tk146.23.

Fees for importing various types of goods have also been revised based on product categories. Several new provisions have been added for ports other than Benapole. These include charging rent based on actual weight or measurement if false declarations are detected, imposing double rent for dangerous goods, and allowing up to a 50% reduction in rent for certain delays certified by the authorities.

A 10% discount has been introduced on warehouse rent for export goods. The notification also states that the authority may independently determine the weight or measurement of bulk goods, apply a minimum charge of one tonne or one cubic meter, and round rent bills according to set rules.

No charge will be taken for rearranging goods in the interest of the port, but fixed charges will apply if requested by importers or agents. A 15% VAT will be applicable on all rents, and tariffs will automatically increase by 5% each year unless re-determined.

In special provisions, the authority said loading and unloading by machinery at Burimari Land Port will be effective only when such facilities are available, subject to approval from the Ministry of Shipping. Mizanur Rahman Khan, president of the Jashore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said higher port charges would raise costs for businesses involved in imports, which would ultimately affect consumers, noting that a large share of the country's imports pass through Benapole.

The Bangladesh Land Port Authority said the increase follows an existing provision in the notification for an annual tariff adjustment at a rate of 5%. The notifications also state that the authority reserves the right to re-determine the rates at any time, subject to prior government approval.