Staff Reporter:
Business leaders in Chattogram have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the interim government demanding withdrawal of the recent 41 percent tariff hike at the Chattogram Port, warning of a complete port shutdown if their demand is not met within the deadline.
The announcement came at a protest rally held on Saturday at the Navy Convention Centre, where hundreds of traders, shipping agents, and port users gathered to express frustration over what they described as an “unjustified and arbitrary” increase in port charges.
Alongside the ultimatum, Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agent employees declared they would begin a four-hour symbolic work stoppage each day starting from Saturday (19 October) to press their demands.
Former Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, who chaired the rally, said a memorandum had already been submitted to the chief adviser on 14 October.
“His office told us he was busy with the July Charter. Now that the charter has been signed, we expect immediate attention to this pressing issue,” he said.
He warned that the tariff hike would severely impact not only Chattogram-based businesses but also the country’s entire supply chain, ultimately burdening traders and consumers nationwide.
“This is not a local issue; it’s a national one,” he stressed.
Mohammed Amirul Haque, former CCCI director and one of the rally’s organisers, acknowledged that some tariff revisions may be necessary but criticised the manner and magnitude of the increase.
“Adjustments are acceptable, but arbitrary decisions are not. Such policies should be made through dialogue with stakeholders,” he said.
Haque also condemned the 300 percent rise in gate pass fees for heavy vehicles, terming it “irrational and exploitative.” He questioned, “Why should a driver pay just to enter the port and clear goods? Does this happen in any civilised country?”
The business leaders vowed to continue protests peacefully but warned that if the government failed to act within a week, they would have “no choice but to shut down the country’s main seaport.”
