BSSA urges Bangladesh Govt to waive port fees incurred during unrest

CHITTAGONG : The Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association (BSAA) recently urged the government to waive all port charges incurred for delays in container handling during the recent unrest, curfew and internet outage.

The association said its members faced severe problems in handling vessels and completing other formalities during that period.

A letter by BSAA Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif to the Chittagong Port Authority said the stay time, including turnaround time, of vessels, both at berth and the outer anchorage, has increased following the recent unrest, according to domestic media reports.

Each vessel incurred costs of nearly Tk 1.5 lakh per day, the letter said. Feeder vessels sailed with fewer export containers than originally booked, while most of them failed to connect with second carriers at transshipment ports. Breakbulk vessels have so far failed to secure future cargo bookings, the letter added.