Withdraw goods palletisation decision : Businesses

Staff Reporter :
Businesses have demanded withdrawal of decision of exported- imported goods palletisation as the cost of transportation will be several times higher.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) recently instructed the businesses to transport all imported and exported goods through wooden structures or palletized packet to prevent fire accidents as well as theft.
It also warned that they would take action if the instruction is not followed.
Due to the directive, the country’s readymade garment industry will be the most sufferers as they currently import raw materials and export finished goods through carton packets, polythene bags and hangers.
Following this, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has sent a letter to the port authority asking withdrawal of the decision.
BGMEA Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim, told The New Nation, “The port authority has taken the decision to avoid responsibility of stealing. The decision will increase additional cost for exporting and importing. So, the authority should take realistic decision by sitting with us.”
The CPA handles around 32 lakh containers and 11 crore tones of cargo goods per year. Of these, 98 per cent is completed through Carton-packet-lacing and hanger method. Every year Bangladesh imports $80 to $90 billion worth of goods and exports at least $60 billion worth of goods.
“If the directive of the port is accepted, the cost of import and export will increase several times. So, the decision should be withdrawn immediately, Azim said.
All imported and exported goods from Chittagong port are being transported in packaging system.
But the port authority directed the businesses to transport all goods through palletized or wooden structure instead of open method.
Mohammad Omar Farooq, Secretary of the CPA said, “We have issued the directive so that they can check goods properly, prevent stolen or lost considering the convenience of the shippers as there are many consignments in LCL cargos in the port.”
Abdullah Zaheer, Chief Operating Officer of Saif Maritime Limited, said that it is difficult to palletize all products as FCL products are delivered directly.  
“The cargos, required to be palletaised, is needed to be done properly. But 100 per cent of FCL and LCL will be palletiased, it is unrealistic, unnecessary and impossible,” he said.  
The decision has already been informed to the shipping owners located in different countries and the Shipping Agents Association has also written to the port authority opposing it.
It is not possible to transport any goods other than dangerous cargo through wooden structures, they said.