Chattogram Port Tariff Hike Deferred for One Month

The government has put on hold the implementation of Chattogram port’s new tariff structure for one month, following mounting concerns from businesses over its potential impact on trade costs and competitiveness.

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain announced the decision at a seminar at the port’s conference hall on Saturday. The revised tariff, which was scheduled to take effect from 15 September, will remain suspended until further notice.

The move comes after strong objections from exporters and importers, who had urged the government to delay the rollout for at least a year and introduce the higher charges gradually. Business leaders argued that sudden tariff increases would significantly raise the cost of international trade and weaken Bangladesh’s position in global markets, especially as the country is set to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status next year.

In its first major tariff overhaul in nearly four decades, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) recently issued a gazette revising service charges upward by an average of 41 percent. Among the steepest hikes were container handling fees, with loading and unloading charges rising by nearly $25 per container.

CPA currently collects fixed tariffs for a range of services, starting from piloting ships from the outer anchorage to the jetties, to tugboat assistance, water supply, crane charges, berthing, container handling, and final delivery of goods. Together, these activities form the core structure of port tariffs.

Trade bodies cautioned that the sudden rise would inflate production and freight costs, disrupt export competitiveness, and pass additional financial burdens onto businesses at a time when global demand remains uncertain. They also criticised the CPA for raising fees without addressing inefficiencies and congestion that continue to slow port operations.

Adviser Hussain emphasised that the government is committed to enhancing port capacity and efficiency through long-term initiatives, including expediting the Bay Terminal project and expanding the use of Mongla port and Kamalapur Inland Container Depot. He added that reliance on foreign operators is not the only solution, pointing out that sustainable investment growth requires strategic reforms rather than restricting opportunities.

He further revealed that the government is planning to establish a cold chamber facility at Mongla port for perishable goods, a move that could strengthen the port’s role as a regional trading hub.

At the seminar, titled “Workshop on Customs and Port Management: Problems, Prospects and Way Forward”, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Anisuzzaman Chowdhury proposed forming a taskforce comprising all relevant agencies to accelerate efficiency at the country’s seaports.

The session was attended by key policymakers and officials, including Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohammed Yousuf, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan, CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, and Chattogram Customs Additional Commissioner Nusrat Sultana.

The event was chaired by Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky. Additional Secretary of ERD and Project Director of the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) AHM Jahangir delivered the welcome address, while NBR Member Md Al Amin Pramanik, CPA Member Commodore Ahamed Amin Abdullah, and Shahed Sarwar, Deputy Managing Director of Chowdhury Group, spoke as panellists.

The government’s decision to defer the tariff hike is expected to provide temporary relief to the business community, while discussions continue on a phased and balanced approach to restructuring port charges.