Notwithstanding port authorities’ claim that both the time and cost have been brought to the accepted standard, businesses (importers and exporters) claim the ease of doing business at the country’s main port was far from ideal due to the long delay in loading and unloading of goods at the port and the inland container depot (ICD) and, consequently, its high cost.
Media reports maintained this while adding many businesses have allegedly claimed that red tape still dominates at the Chittagong Port.
Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan, however, reportedly, maintained that in the trading access border indicator of the ease of doing business index, the time needed to load export goods on ships at the port was brought down to 22 hours from 36 hours and the cost had been reduced to below US $ 200 — As per the ease of doing business index, to reduce time and cost, export products have to be loaded on ships from the port gate within 36 hours while the cost of loading goods should be brought down to US $ 200 — even if exporters have, reportedly, claimed that it was not possible to load goods to ships from the ICD within the stipulated time.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the ICDs were taking more time than the port to deliver containers to importers as well even as BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, earlier in April, reportedly, maintained that it takes two days to receive containers from the Chittagong Port but seven days from the ICD, in a letter written to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), in this direction.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, BGMEA Director and Director of Clipton Group, MDM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, reportedly, stated that importers also face harassment in the name of various tests after goods arrive at the port.
