Documentation, delivery of cargo on same day

Express (July 23, 2011)

In a move to free the premier port from congestion of containerised cargo a tripartite meeting of port users, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and customs authority last night agreed on discharge of cargo on the date of documentation.

The parties concerned have stated that discharge of cargo from the vessels is often delayed due to lack of timely documentation of the imported goods, delay in issuance of shipping agents' permit, placing of wrong documents and providing wrong information about import containers to the port and customs authority.

All parties concerned including importers, C&F (clearing & forwarding) agents and government agencies were requested to be fully aware of the consignments' position in the port to facilitate quick discharge of containerised and bulk cargo immediately after documentation of papers.

The decision came at a meeting of the CPA, customs, importers, exporters and C&F agents working at the port jetties on Thursday night.

Bangladesh garments manufactures exporters association (BGMEA) organised the meeting at the BGMEA conference room to work out actions to raise the service standard in the port and extend the port facilities through quick cargo delivery.

BGMEA First Vice President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury presided over the meeting. Port Chairman Commodore M Anwarul Islam, Commissioner of Customs (import) Syed Golam Kibria, Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI) president Khalilur Rahman and CMCCI Vice President AM Mahbub Chowdhury, berth perators' association president Fazle Ikram Chowdhury, Senior Vice President of Bangladesh shipping agents' association Kamal Hayat, Bangladesh inland container depot owners' association chairman Nurul Quayum Khan, BGMEA Director Abdul Wahab, Syed Nazrul and Sabbir Mostafa addressed the meeting.

Trade bodies including Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, BGMEA, BKMEA and C&F Agents' Association on several occasions blamed the port and customs officials for lack of prompt delivery of cargo from the port for which, they alleged, the RMG exporters often failed to keep export schedules.

Nasir Uddin depicted a grim picture of slow process in the delivery of documented imported raw materials of the readymade garment export sector by the port and customs authorities.

He, however, stated that in spite of inadequate infrastructure Chittagong Port Authority recently made remarkable progress in handling cargoes.

"Still there is ample scope for the premier port to raise its standard of service, efficiency and extension of facilities," he said.

He emphasised the need for quickest delivery of containers after documentation formalities, prompt action by port and customs officials, installation of yard-based equipment and employment of more workforce for quick handling by the private ICDs.

The port chairman said they are not getting the documents duly for quick disposal and the shipping agents give wrong information about their containers causing delay in delivery of cargo. He sought coordinated efforts by all stakeholders and port users in this connection.

The Customs commissioner said customs activities will be expedited soon as the government has recently moved to enhance personnel in the Customs department to facilitate container handling in the port and private container depots.

They also emphasised that private ICDs should be allowed to handle more import items to facilitate easing of containerised cargo in the port. Chittagong port has now capacity for storing nearly 31,000 containers at a time.