Vessel owners demand immediate implementation of logistics policy

Business Desk :

The Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners’ Association (BCVOA) and the Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh (COAB) on Sunday urged the government to immediately implement the National Logistics Policy 2024, particularly its provisions related to cargo transport by vessels.

At a press conference held at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity, BCVOA General Secretary Mehbub Kabir presented several demands on behalf of the associations. Present at the event were Mohammad Khurshid Alam, vice-chairman of COAB; GM Sarowar, vice-president of BCVOA; and Masud, joint secretary of BCVOA, among others.

The vessel owners called for forming the board of directors of the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) based on majority representation, clearing outstanding demurrage payments of Tk 2.11 billion, settling all unpaid transport fees, stopping the use of vessels as floating warehouses, and ensuring all ships operate strictly in sequence as mandated by the logistics policy.

Speaking at the event, Mehbub Kabir said that although vessel owners were following the serial system under the policy, a syndicate of cargo agents remnants of the fascist-era government continued to transport goods illegally without following the queue.

He added that some cargo agents had not paid nearly Tk 2.11 billion in dues owed to vessel owners as of 2023. Although the Department of Shipping issued a directive in February 2023 regarding the payment of settled demurrage, the dues remain unpaid. A committee later recommended repayment, but some agents refused to comply earlier this year, he said.

Mehbub warned that due to the crisis, hundreds of millions in dues remain stuck, forcing vessel owners to scrap ships, while thousands of workers have lost jobs. He cautioned that a severe shortage of vessels could emerge if the situation continues.

He also highlighted that the National Logistics Policy 2024 requires representation on the policymaking committee based on vessel ownership proportion, a provision that has yet to be implemented.

The vessel owners demanded that the authorities resolve the crisis within 15 days, warning, “Otherwise, if vessel operations are halted after 15 days, the responsibility will lie entirely with the authorities, not us.”