STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg

Private inland container depots (ICDs) have postponed their earlier decision to suspend handling of export and empty containers for a month after a fruitful meeting with the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman yesterday afternoon.

Citing that they are currently unable to cover their expenses because the proposed increase in charges has not been implemented, ICD operators had earlier verbally informed their clients of the suspension of all export and empty container handling operations from December 11.

The move sparked fears of a potential disruption to the export supply chain through Chattogram port.

CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman held an emergency meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) at Chattogram port at 4 p.m. to discuss the issue.

BICDA President Khalilur Rahman, Vice Presidents Imran Fahim Noor, Haji Md Hossain, Benojir Nissan, and Secretary General Md Ruhul Amin Sikder attended the meeting.

CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk said the CPA chairman urged the BICDA leaders to postpone their move for a month and resolve the issue through discussion with all stakeholders. The BICDA leaders agreed to the request.

BICDA Secretary General Md Ruhul Amin Sikder said the ICD owners, at the meeting, placed three-point demands, including the withdrawal of a case with the High Court related to the ban on the ICD tariff increase.

They also demanded the abolishment of the one-sided tariff committee from the ICD Policy, citing the majority representation of service takers, as well as a logical adjustment of the ICD charges, said Sikder.

BICDA, in July, announced an increase in charges for handling export cargoes and empty containers by as much as 60 percent, effective from September 1, citing rising operational and investment costs, currency devaluation, and inflationary pressures.

Port users, from the beginning, opposed the decision and refused to pay the increased rate.

As several mediation attempts failed, the issue went to the High Court, which suspended the revised tariff.

The shipping ministry later clarified that no new charges could be imposed without approval from the tariff committee.