Ctg port: Businesses issue 7-day ultimatum to revoke 41% tariff hike

Business leaders in Chattogram have given the government a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the 41 % tariff hike imposed by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), warning that they will shut down port operations if their demand is not met.

The announcement came from a protest rally organised by the Port Users' Forum at the Navy Convention Hall in Chattogram today afternoon (18 October). The meeting was chaired by Amir Humayun Chowdhury, former president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Humayun said the business community had already submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser on 14 October, urging withdrawal of the increased charges. "We were informed that he was occupied with the July Charter process at the time. Now that it's completed, we hope he will turn his attention to our concerns," he said.

He added that the tariff hike, effective from 15 October, would not only hurt traders in Chattogram but also affect businesses and consumers across the country. "This demand is not ours alone – it belongs to the entire nation."

Announcing the protest programme, Humayun declared, "Starting tomorrow, customs agent employees will observe a symbolic four-hour work stoppage every day. We are giving the government one week to withdraw the increased tariffs. If our demand is not met within that time, we will shut down Chattogram Port."

Forum organiser and former CCCI director Amirul Haque said some adjustments to port charges may be justified but must be based on consultation.

"You cannot just increase rates arbitrarily. Let's sit together and decide through discussion which fees need to be adjusted and by how much," he said.

Amirul criticised the 300% increase in gate-pass fees for heavy vehicles, calling it irrational. "Why should a driver have to pay just to enter the port and collect goods? Can this happen in any civilised country?" he asked.

Mohammad Hossain, president of the Chattogram Prime Movers Association, said drivers and their assistants face poor working conditions inside the port.

"There are no toilets, no resting places, and no canteens. Yet they are being asked to pay higher gate-pass fees. This is unjust and unacceptable. We have already stopped operating prime movers in protest," he said.

Former BGMEA vice president MA Salam said two government advisers had earlier suspended the tariff hike for one month following stakeholder objections.

"We proposed holding a discussion on the issue. But after just three weeks, the increased rates were reintroduced without any consultation," he alleged.

Representatives from over 50 trade associations expressed solidarity with the movement and called for a united front to push for withdrawal of the tariff increase.

Moderated by SM Abu Tayeb, former director of the CCCI, the protest rally was also addressed by Parvez Akhtar, former president of the Shipping Agents Association; Saiful Alam, president of the Customs Agents Association; Shahidullah Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Garments Accessories Producers Association; Mohiu Uddin Chowdhury, former director of BGMEA; Humayun Kabir Sohag, acting general secretary of the Port Truck Owners Association; and Md Yasin, general secretary of the Motor Parts Importers Association, among others.

CPA defends hike

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), in a press release issued yesterday, defended its decision, arguing that it is essential to sustain operations, meet rising costs, and bring Bangladesh's principal seaport in line with international standards.

The new tariff structure was approved following a comprehensive review under the Infrastructure Development Optimisation Model, the CPA said. 

It argued that despite massive expansion and increased throughput since 1986, tariffs remained unchanged for 40 years. "Over the past four decades, operational costs, inflation and infrastructure demands have multiplied, but the service rates have not kept pace," the statement reads. "Without a revision, maintaining efficiency and quality would be impossible."

The statement added that the new rates were developed after benchmarking against major regional ports in Singapore, Malaysia, and Colombo, and that the revised tariffs would "reflect real operational costs" while supporting Chattogram Port's competitiveness in the global logistics chain.

The CPA also said it consulted stakeholders – including shipping agents, freight forwarders, and private terminal operators – before finalising the new rates, and that the hike would be implemented in phases alongside improvements in vessel turnaround time, digital services, and cargo handling.