The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is planning to introduce mandatory use of electronic locks, seals and a container tracking system in a bid to curb petty theft from containers transporting export and import goods to Chittagong port from both private and seaport inland container depots (ICDs).
The business community seem unhappy with this move and port users are demanding the cancellation of mandatory electronic locks and seals, arguing it would push up the cost of doing business.
Exporters and importers could face charges of Tk600 per container should they fail to accommodate the new security measures in the first 48 hours and Tk50 for each hour thereafter.
On January 19, NBR amended the Electronic Seal and Lock Services Rules act of 2016, just two and a half months after framing the rules.
Earlier on November 3 last year, NBR issued the rules introducing electronic seal and lock services for the first time in the country.
Port Users Forum, a platform of the port users, held an urgent meeting on December 4 and voiced their concerns.
Terming the move as expensive and time-consuming, Mahbubul Alam, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and also chairman of Port Users’ Forum, said that the initiative will hinder exports and imports of Bangladesh.
“The decision has been taken unilaterally without any prior consultation with the stakeholders and it should be cancelled without delay,” he added.
Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, former first vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said businesses would not benefit from the new system of electronic seal and lock.
Exporters dealing with apparel have also expressed their concerns and said: “The new system will cause us to suffer huge losses.”
AM Mahbub, acting president of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI) spoke with the Dhaka Tribune and expressed his fears that maritime seaports might face huge congestion while placing the electronic seals on 2000 containers every day.
As per Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), a total of 16 private inland container depots or off-docks are located in the port city with a total capacity of 55,000 TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Units) of containers.
There are six inland container depots (ICDs) or off-docks located in Patenga while the rest are located at Chittagong Port Access Road (CPER). As many as 1000 containers laden with import goods enter the 16 off-docks while a total of 2000 containers carrying export goods leave the ICDs for shipment, said sources at the BICDA.
Ahsanul Haque Chowdhury, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association, has also expressed concerns against mandatory use of the electronic locks and seals as it would have “an adverse impact on the exporters.” He pointed out that this move will “increase overhead cost and lead time of the exporters.”
AKM Akhter Hossain, president of C&F Agents Association, has suggested this decision might increase container and vessel congestion at the Chittagong port.
MA Salam, former senior vice-president of the CCCI, requested all the businesses to resist the SRO (statutory regulatory order) issued against the interest of Chittagong port.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith is likely to introduce the new tracking system on December 6.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
