The government has decided to exempt the demurrage charges on clearance of imported goods of apparel industry, remaining stuck at Chittagong port due to the recent crisis in the country.
Earlier the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the authorities concerned in this regard.
Finally the decision came after a meeting between the delegation BGMEA, led by its President SM Mannan (Kochi) and with the state minister for shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury at his secretariat office.
This is to mention that due to ongoing emergency situation in the country because of curfew and internet outage the servers of port and customs could not function that caused disruption of unloading of goods from ships as a result the garment exporters were not able to clear the goods timely.
Due to the congestion of containers at the port, additional demurrage charges are imposed to release goods stuck at the port according to the conventional rules.
BGMEA delegation included 1st Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Senior Vice President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury and Director Ashiqur Rahman (Tuhin), Director Mohiuddin Rubel.
Sources said currently a large number of containers, carrying imported goods, are waiting for release at Chittagong port. Most of these are related to the RMG industry. Already, port demurrage charges of more than Tk 1000 crore have been levied on the exporters of this sector.
State minister said that his ministry is always ready to provide all possible support to the garment industry.
