The backlog of unclaimed containers at Chattogram Port is continuing to grow, with nearly 10,000 containers currently awaiting auction or destruction. These containers, occupying a significant portion of the port’s yard, are disrupting the flow of operations at the country’s main seaport.
As of December 20, the port reported that 9,972 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of auctionable and destructible containers remain uncollected, containing over 100,000 metric tons of goods. In total, the port is managing around 35,000 containers, along with 3,560 tons of less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo and 5,443 tons of bulk cargo, much of which has been stored for an extended period. Some of these goods have been accumulating in port sheds since 2004.
Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Md Omar Faruk told Bangladesh Pratidin that efforts are underway to accelerate the auction and destruction process, though it remains slow. "We are urging the customs authorities to speed up the auctioning and destruction of undelivered containers," he said. "While some containers are being auctioned or destroyed, the rate of accumulation is outpacing these efforts. It will take time to resolve the situation."
Those concerned said that sometimes the consignment of goods is stuck at the port due to legal complications including customs. If it is delayed for a long time, a large amount of demurrage charge is added to the import cost. If the importer pays it and takes delivery of the goods, he has to face losses.
In this situation, importers are not interested in taking delivery. If the market price falls after import, many importers leave the goods at the port without taking delivery for fear of losses.
According to the rules, the container loaded with imported goods can be kept in the port yard for up to 30 days after paying the prescribed charge. If the importer does not unload the goods within this period, the port authority hands over the import documents to the customs authority. The customs gives the importer another 15 days to take delivery within this time. If the delivery is not taken even after receiving the letter, the customs authority can auction it for sale. Unusable goods are destroyed.
Several officials of the Chattogram Customs House said that it is not possible to auction many goods due to cases against the consignment. Again, there are some procedural aspects to the auction. If a suitable bid is not received the first time, a second auction has to be called. In that case, if the bid is not higher than the first, a third auction needs to be called. This takes a long time.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
