Ministry calls meeting as row over Ctg port’s container handling charges drags on

The shipping ministry has stepped in to resolve an ongoing dispute between the Shipping Agents Association and the Berth Operators Association regarding onboard container handling charges at the General Cargo Berth of Chattogram Port.

A meeting has been scheduled for 6 May at the ministry's meeting room in Dhaka, to be chaired by Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.

The dispute arose over the rates for handling containers onboard ships at the General Cargo Berth, prompting berth operators to slow down the unloading process and ship documentation activities. This slowdown has resulted in increased turnaround times for vessels at the port.

In response, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) held multiple meetings with both associations but failed to reach an agreement. Consequently, the CPA sought intervention from the ministry.

As part of the initiative, the ministry has called a meeting involving the leadership of both organisations as well as port authority representatives.

A letter issued on 23 April stated that the meeting aims to determine a reasonable and acceptable rate for onboard loading and empty container handling. The objective is to ensure smooth operational activities at Chattogram Port and maintain uninterrupted goods supply to the market.

CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk said, "While this is essentially a dispute between two business entities, urgent resolution is necessary to ensure uninterrupted port operations. We hope a reasonable solution will emerge from this meeting convened by the Shipping Ministry."

Currently, shipping agents pay Tk559.53 per container to berth operators. However, berth operators are demanding an additional $5 per container — a demand the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association has termed "unreasonable."

The Berth Operators Association pointed out that the onboard handling charge was originally set at Tk350 in 2007, with 60% (Tk210) allocated to operators and 40% (Tk140) to workers. While the workers' share has been subject to a 10% annual increase since 2016, the operators' portion has remained unchanged. As a result, the total charge has increased to Tk559.53, with workers now receiving Tk349.53 while operators still receive Tk210.

Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship-Handling Operators, and Terminal Operators' Owners' Association, told TBS that shipping agents have consistently avoided discussions and ignored CPA's calls to participate in fixing a fair tariff.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif contended that the 10% annual increase implemented since 2016 lacked formal approval, being based only on verbal instructions from then shipping minister Shahjahan Khan. "We have been protesting this arbitrary rate hike for years," he said.

Previously, the CPA proposed increasing the onboard handling charge by Tk205, a move supported by berth operators. However, shipping agents have agreed to only a Tk50.36 increase, leaving the issue unresolved.