The apex garment makers’ body in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has reportedly asked all its members to inform it about realisation of additional charges by shipping lines and freight forwarders on export and import consignments.
According to media reports, the BGMEA on 13 December, issued a circular in this direction — the circular said that, as per the direction of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the port authorities, no charges were applicable for import consignments of garment manufacturing companies shipped under freight prepaid and export consignments shipped under the Free On Board or Free Carrier (FCA) — asking all its members to share with it (BGMEA) all related documents of additional charges realised so that the BGMEA could initiate effective measures with the support of the NBR and port authorities to stop imposition of any unauthorised charges.
The move by the traders’ body follows allegation by the garment exporters of freight forwarders and shipping lines charging additional amount on import and export consignments at the Chittagong Port and in violation of the NBR and port authorities’ instructions.
