A sudden fourfold increase in the entry fee for heavy vehicles at Bangladesh’s main seaport, Chattogram, has disrupted container transport operations. The fee for each prime mover entering the port was raised from Tk 57 to Tk 230, leading trailer owners to suspend movement since October 14 night.
Mohammad Hossain, General Secretary of the Chattogram Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners’ Association, told reporters, “The port authority has hiked the entry fee by Tk 173 at once. It remains unclear who will bear the additional cost — the owners or the workers. That’s why trailer operations have been halted temporarily.”
He added that trailer operators already pay fixed line costs, tolls, and tips for trips between Chattogram and other destinations like Dhaka. “Whenever fuel prices rise, those costs are reviewed. But this time the entry fee was increased without any coordination or prior discussion,” Hossain said.
The association stated that operations will resume only after discussions with port officials clarify the new cost-sharing mechanism.
Business Users Concerned
Businesses dependent on the port have expressed concern that prolonged disruption could lead to a buildup of containers.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), said, “Prime movers carry containers between the port and off-docks across the country. If their movement remains suspended, container deliveries will be delayed, affecting both import and export supply chains.”
Meanwhile, Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruk claimed that port operations remain “normal.” However, he acknowledged receiving complaints that some trailer owners are obstructing movement at various points, saying the matter is being “considered seriously.”
Foreign Operators Set to Take Over Port Terminals
The fee hike comes at a time when the government is finalizing long-term deals to hand over two major terminals — the Laldia Container Terminal and the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) — to foreign operators.
According to official sources, the Dubai-based company DP World is being considered to operate these facilities under a 25- to 30-year agreement. The Ministry of Shipping argues that foreign investment is necessary to modernize the port and expand its handling capacity.
However, opposition political groups and economists warn that transferring control of strategic maritime infrastructure to foreign companies could threaten Bangladesh’s economic sovereignty. The Left Democratic Alliance has accused the government of “raising port tariffs to serve foreign interests.”
Concerns have also been raised over the transparency of the process, as reports suggest the agreements may bypass competitive bidding and proceed through direct government-to-government (G2G) negotiations.
Call for Coordination
Industry analysts emphasize that coordination among stakeholders — including port authorities, transport owners, and traders — is essential to prevent a logistical gridlock.
As the country’s primary maritime trade hub, any prolonged disruption at Chattogram Port could ripple through Bangladesh’s entire export-import network, especially at a time when the port’s future operational control remains under scrutiny.
