More than 2,800 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers have remained stranded at Chittagong Port for years with 15,875 tonne of goods.
False declaration, duty complexities and unauthorised import of goods led to stacking up of the unreleased containers in the port over the years.
There are even some containers that have remained lying with goods for last 20 years.
Chittagong Customs House sources said the goods will be sold in auction while the perished goods will be destroyed to clear the containers soon.
The situation is hampering smooth handling of cargo in Chittagong port.
Shipping agencies also continue to face trouble as they were not getting back containers taken on rent.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sources said they sent letters to the National Board of Revenue six times in last two years to take steps in releasing the containers from port.
CPA also requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to auction the cargo and destroy the perished goods in containers.
NBR has taken no step yet in this regard.
“We have failed to get 58 of containers released in past one and a half decades. Several attempts have been made, but no result,” Shapan Ghosh, executive director of QC Shipping Limited.
“We sent letters and even went physically to different offices concerned repeatedly. We are to get any response,” Shapan added.
He said the main line operators (MLOs) were becoming suspicious about the role of shipping agents as containers remain stuck for years.
“Many of them have even visited Bangladesh several times to see what happened. It’s very embarrassing for us.”
Shahed Sarwar, custom affairs representative of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, said they had repeatedly been requesting the authorities to clear the containers, but saw no tangible initiative so far.
“Situation has become too grave that many of the MLOs are threatening the shipping agencies concerned to close deals,” he said.
A local agent of the Singapore-based Sea Star Shipping said 10 of their containers laden with liquid glycerine remained lying in the port in past five years.
He said the customs authority could not even tell them when they would be able to remove the containers.
Chittagong Customs House has completed an inventory of goods in the unreleased containers, said Azizur Rahman, additional commissioner of the Customs.
“The stuck containers would be released soon.
The perished goods will be destroyed and the remaining goods will be auctioned,” he added.
