Freight forwarding agents grab $2.4b illegally per year

Al Amin :
The freight forwarding agents are grabbing around $2.4 billion per year illegally by undertaking charges unusually from the importers against their services they provide for the international trades, even in the ongoing dollar crisis, traders said.
Besides, cost of doing business and value of imported goods are increasing as well as Bangladesh is losing competitiveness in the international markets, the traders added.
They also alleged that the agents are not following any international rule and regulation in determining charges of their services, they provide for export-import activities, which are making the local trades costlier.
As per the rule of the UNCTAD MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT HANDBOOK-1997, the Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO) undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of all acts necessary to ensure delivery of the goods.
While the Chattogram Port Authority stated that terminal handling charges, LCL charges and all others charges for containers will be included with the freight…Importer will not pay any other charges to the agent at destination.
Besides, there are many circular in this regard, but the foreign agents are illegally charging in different names such as DOC charges, B/L charges, foreign load port charges, document charges, landing charges, telex charges and admin charges, they alleged.
For an example, they said the agents would charge Tk 200 against per invoice, but it now Tk 6000, which has turned into extortion.
On the other hand, as the importers forward the invoice attaching all costs including freight fare to the foreign supplier through the LC. In this case, it is direct loss of foreign exchange of the country, if the agents do not bring that cost to the country from the principal.
Again, the importers are paying destination charges twice, which is the 2nd loss to the country as the law is not followed in that case.
Besides, it is the third loss for the country, if the forwarding agents don’t pay tax by bringing chalan commission by following rule stated in 52M.As the agents are not bringing the huge export-import cost and commission and the determining higher charges, the estimated loss of the country is around $200 million per month or $2.4 billion per year, according to a letter of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Even in the loses, the foreign agents have sent a letter to Chattogram Port Authority to cancel the port’s previous circular in order to grabbing more money in the name of terminal handling charge (THC), the BGMEA said.
Protesting the initiative of the agent, the BGMEA has sent a letter to the port authority to continue the circular with a view to saving the country from foreign exchange losses.
It also urged all to remain cautious about the misappropriation by the foreign forwarding agents for the sake of the country’s international trades.
BGMEA President told The New Nation, “It is now important to protest the illegal initiative to protect foreign currency for the sake of national interest. Strong rule and regulation are needed to bring them transparency.”