Prime movers suspend container transport from Ctg port over gate-pass fee hike

Container movement at Chattogram port was partially disrupted today (15 October) after prime mover and trailer owners suspended operations in protest against a sharp increase in gate-pass fees.

The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) raised the entry fee for vehicles from Tk57 to Tk230 — a nearly fourfold jump — effective from early Tuesday, as part of a broader 41% tariff hike.

Protesting the move, owners and workers of prime movers and trailers gathered in front of the port gates around 3:30pm and halted container transport.

"The port authority implemented the fee hike without any discussion with stakeholders and issued only a 24-hour notice. This is unacceptable," said Selim Khan, president of the Prime Movers Workers Union.

He said the owners decided in a meeting to suspend all transport operations from the afternoon, and the protest would likely continue until the CPA withdraws the new fee structure.

However, the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA) said container transport from inland depots has not been affected. "We have not protested the fee increase," said Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of BICDA. "We will pass on the additional costs to our clients."

CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

Earlier in the day, the port authority enforced the new tariff schedule amid strong opposition from transport operators, freight forwarders, and shipping agents. Besides the vehicle entry fee hike, gate-pass charges for representatives of C&F agents, shipping agents, and freight forwarders were raised sixfold — from Tk15 to Tk115.