Shippers Council of Bangladesh (SCB) has sought a waiver of various surcharges that the importers will have to pay due to delays in receiving goods from ports amid the quota reform movement and curfew imposed by the government.

Md Rezaul Karim, chairman of the SCB, said in a statement that since July 18, due to the student movement and curfew, the country’s import-export activities and industrial factories had come to a standstill.

As a result, there has been a container jam at the off-docks including airports, sea ports and land ports.

Therefore, importers have to pay various surcharges including additional port charges and shipping demurrage charges.

The SCB chairman also said that thousands of cargo trucks have been jammed in the land ports, and traders are not able to clear the goods. This will increase the cost of goods which will be passed on to the consumer.

On the other hand, exporters are facing severe financial losses as they are unable to ship the goods, he added.

The board of directors of the SCB expressed their concerns in an emergency meeting and strongly demanded waiver of additional port charges, shipping demurrage/detention charges and other surcharges for one month since the blockade and curfew caused by the student movement, says a media release.

They also directed the related institutions including shipping agents, freight forwarders, clearing houses, logistics companies, customs authorities, and NBR to strengthen and unhindered the import-export activities from their respective positions and to work with the assurance of providing the highest level of service.