Chittagong Port extends waiver on store rent to May 16
CCCI requested shipping ministry on May 4 to extend the waiver period
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has extended the waiver on store rent of imported containers, for the third time, to May 16, said a notice issued by the CPA traffic unit on May 5.
On May 4, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam sent a letter to State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, requesting him to extend the waiver period until May 16, considering the situation of importers amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Initially, considering the situation caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, the CPA announced a waiver period from March 27 to April 20, and later upon requests from businessmen associations, it was extended to May 4.
The imported containers – whose free four days ended on March 26 or later – will be exempted from store rent provided that the importers collect those before May 16, the notice reads.
The CPA urged all to collect their containers in time for the sake of smooth operation of the port.
Container congestion occurred in the port with the container storage exceeding its capacity amid the ongoing shutdown. The number of ships in the outer anchorage awaits unloading also increased. Under the circumstances, the National Board of Revenue decided to move containers from the yard to inland containers depots.
The CPA issued letters to importers concerned, clearing and forwarding agents, and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce requesting them to collect around 2,500 containers.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury visited the port to oversee the overall condition.