Fixation of container handling charges of the ICDs (inland container depots) has been deferred by 15 days and the proposed hike of charges postponed until February 03. The decision was taken at a meeting held today at the office of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) with its chairman Rear Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed in the chair. The representatives of different port users, leaders of trade bodies and business associations attended the meeting. The meeting also formed an 11-member committee comprising representatives of different bodies, which has been asked to submit its report by February 03. The committee will hold its first meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) in the CPA office, sources said. Commodore Shaheen Rahman, Member (Harbour and Marine) of the Chittagong Port Authority, is the convener of the committee. Members are: Golam Sarwar, director (traffic), CPA, Mahfuzul Haque Shah, director of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Khalilur Rahman, president of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, AM Mahbub Chowdhury, representative of BGMEA, Shawkat Osman, representative of BKMEA, Shahed Sarwar, representative of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, Captain Gias Uddin Chowdhury, representative of Bangladesh Container Shipping Association, Khairul Alam Sujon, representative of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, Yasir Haider Rizvy, representative of BICDA (Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association) and Liaquat Ali Hawladar, representative of Customs C&F Agents Association. BICDA recently enhanced charges of containerized cargo handling by 200 per cent as, it said, operational costs and wages and benefits of ICD workers have been raised over last five years. Current charges taken by off-docks were fixed in 2010. The port authority mediated the charges in consultation with BICDA, shipping agents, exporters, importers and other port users concerned. But the BICDA proposals drew widespread criticism from all concerned including garment and knitwear exporters and port users’ forum. They alleged that off-dock owners cannot fix handling rates without consultation with those who will pay the charges. In the face of opposition, the CPA asked ICD owners not to claim enhanced charges until it is resolved in a meeting. Representatives of BICDA (Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association), Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Customs Clearing & Forwarding Agents Association, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, BGMEA, BKMEA, Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, Port Users Forum, Chittagong Customs House, Chittagong Port Truck Owners & Contractors Association and Main Line Operators (MLOs) were present in the meeting. The CPA has urged BICDA members not to hike the charges until all concerned reach a consensus on the issue. Following the request, ICD owners refrained from claiming higher charges from January 1.
