The cargo terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) is facing troubles with huge stockpiles of uncleared imported shipments. The airport warehouse is now having more than double its capacity to store imported cargo. As a result, imported goods and other products are being damaged as huge quantities of those items have been piling up in the warehouse which has already gone beyond its capacity.
Airport officials said the airport is left with huge cargo backlog and congestion as the import clearances are taking place at a very slow pace in view of novel coronavirus outbreak. However, the authority concerned urged to the importers to expedite the clearance of imported cargo from the warehouse.
Visiting the warehouse, it was found that the problem has reached such a level that imported goods are now kept under the open sky for which most of the unprotected products left in the open are getting wet in the rain and wasted this heat and humid weather. The airport warehouse storage capacity is 1200 tonnes.
On the other hand, importers are demanding to waiving off all demurrage charges at the airports as they are unable to move their import cargo from the terminals. Talking to the news agencies, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) vice-president Siddiqur Rahman said, “Businessmen want to unload their imported goods from the airport. However, considering the current situation, it is not possible due to lockdown condition.”
According to Biman’s import department information, in case of general and commercial products, warehouse demurrage is not counted from the day of import until the fifth day of arrival of the consignment. but handling charge for each kilogram (kg) is Tk 3.5 is applicable. However, the demurrage charge is Tk 25 for each unit (a unit consisting of 50 kg) from the sixth day to day 15, for next 15 days (day 15 to day 30) the charge is Tk 50 per unit and after a month the charge is Tk 100 for each unit. With the demurrage charge, 15 percent VAT is also applicable.
SMA Khair, Vice-President of the Dhaka Customs Agents Association said, “The importers could not unload the goods as the customs activities were limited and the movement of vehicles were restricted during on-going general holiday announced by the government due to corona.”
“As a result, we found that the demurrage charge is higher than the duty. This has created a fear among the importers to count more losses than making profit. If demurrage charge is waived, everyone will be benefited,” he added.
To this end, Biman’s Managing Director and CEO Mokabbir Hossain said, “We have received written application from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) requesting us to consider waiving off demurrage charges, but no decision has been taken yet.”
