In a letter to the shipping ministry, Chittagong Port Authority and Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA), have demanded a withdrawal of the emergency cost recovery surcharge (ECRS) carrier as the apparel sector and other industries are already in jeopardy.
Global retailers are continuing to suspend or cancel work orders, which has created uncertainty for factories and workers, said Mohammed Abdus Salam, first Vice President, BGMEA.
Feeder vessels operating to and from Chittagong port have imposed $75 per laden teu and $37.50 per empty container congestion surcharge since 15 November.
They imposed the surcharge as the ports in Colombo, Singapore and Port Klang have experienced severe congestion in the last couple of weeks, with vessels facing berthing delays of up to 48 hours, causing productivity losses they are trying to recoup via the surcharge.
Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury, Chairman, BSAA, argues that the surcharge is not being collected locally. He said the feeder vessels are realizing the increased amount from mainline operators, which in turn are collecting it as a general rate increase from the global buyers.
