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Use of Pangaon port may be made mandatory for some imports
TIN news: Authorities concerned are considering making the import of some products mandatory through Pangaon port by ensuring shipment on time at affordable charges, officials said.
As the container terminal close by the capital mostly remains idle for lukewarm response from the businesses, the revenue board has initiated a move to address the bottlenecks that discourage them. The remedial measures include fixation of regular schedule for ship movements and affordable charges to help make the Pangaon port terminal operationally vibrant.
The National Board of Revenue will host an inter-ministerial meeting today (Tuesday) with all relevant stakeholders. They include representatives from the ministries of shipping, commerce, finance, and home, Chittagong Port Authority, Bangladesh Container and Shipping Agents Association and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Officials said a regular schedule for movement of ships from Chittagong seaport to Pangaon and Pangaon to Chittagong port is likely to be discussed in the meeting.
Different charges relating to product loading and unloading, storage, and mobile harbour crane might also be discussed for reassessment. Also, empty container fees and other container fees for transportation to and from Chittagong port to Pangaon are also high on the agenda of the meeting.
Talking to the FE, Pangaon commissioner Mostaba Ali said the meeting will discuss existing problems at the Pangaon port.
“We will be able to know the position of the different ministries on Pangaon port, its charges and fees. Recently, container fees from Chittagong to Pangaon have gone up,” he said.Charges for twenty-foot containers have been increased by the Shipping Ministry to US$ 220 from $150 while it rose to $440 from $300 for forty-foot containers, he mentioned.
The inter-ministerial meeting will also discuss non-availability of ships at the Pangaon port terminal. “Some 32 agencies have been licensed by the Ministry of Shipping for launching ships, but those are yet to come into operation. Currently, some three ships of Summit alliance are operating in the port,” he added.
Businessmen have to come forward and open letters of credit for importing products through Pangaon port, he said. “The port is gradually becoming vibrant. In the last four months it has collected Tk 500 million in tax revenue,” he added.
The government inaugurated the Pangaon Container Terminal in November 2013.
It is meant for expanding facilities for the country’s external trade as export-import operations by road to and from the capital and through the seaports used to face hurdles, including traffic congestion and disruptions for unrest
As the container terminal close by the capital mostly remains idle for lukewarm response from the businesses, the revenue board has initiated a move to address the bottlenecks that discourage them. The remedial measures include fixation of regular schedule for ship movements and affordable charges to help make the Pangaon port terminal operationally vibrant.
The National Board of Revenue will host an inter-ministerial meeting today (Tuesday) with all relevant stakeholders. They include representatives from the ministries of shipping, commerce, finance, and home, Chittagong Port Authority, Bangladesh Container and Shipping Agents Association and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Officials said a regular schedule for movement of ships from Chittagong seaport to Pangaon and Pangaon to Chittagong port is likely to be discussed in the meeting.
Different charges relating to product loading and unloading, storage, and mobile harbour crane might also be discussed for reassessment. Also, empty container fees and other container fees for transportation to and from Chittagong port to Pangaon are also high on the agenda of the meeting.
Talking to the FE, Pangaon commissioner Mostaba Ali said the meeting will discuss existing problems at the Pangaon port.
“We will be able to know the position of the different ministries on Pangaon port, its charges and fees. Recently, container fees from Chittagong to Pangaon have gone up,” he said.Charges for twenty-foot containers have been increased by the Shipping Ministry to US$ 220 from $150 while it rose to $440 from $300 for forty-foot containers, he mentioned.
The inter-ministerial meeting will also discuss non-availability of ships at the Pangaon port terminal. “Some 32 agencies have been licensed by the Ministry of Shipping for launching ships, but those are yet to come into operation. Currently, some three ships of Summit alliance are operating in the port,” he added.
Businessmen have to come forward and open letters of credit for importing products through Pangaon port, he said. “The port is gradually becoming vibrant. In the last four months it has collected Tk 500 million in tax revenue,” he added.
The government inaugurated the Pangaon Container Terminal in November 2013.
It is meant for expanding facilities for the country’s external trade as export-import operations by road to and from the capital and through the seaports used to face hurdles, including traffic congestion and disruptions for unrest