The Bangladesh Customs gave approval for setting up of one more off dock in Chittagong as part of efforts to raise the handling capacity of the major port in the country.
The inland container depot will be set up at an estimated cost of US$35 million in some 41 kilometres away from the Chittagong port area.
A Dhaka-based textile company is constructing the off-dock under the name of Bay Link Containers Limited. The new off dock will have a capacity to handle at least some 4,500TEU, while now, there are 19 off docks in Bangladesh having the capacity to handle a total of 78,000TEU.
Off docks handle almost 100% export containers alongside 37 types of goods laden import boxes and the empties. The port authority wants the off docks to handle all types of imported goods and provide delivery from there, aiming to retain the port yards decongested.
Shippers at first send cargoes to the off docks by trucks and covered vans from their factories and covered vans which latter are stuffed at containers before being transported to the port yards for loading to the vessels.
Country’s apparel manufacturers, the top users of the port and off docks, had long been demanding the government to allow the creation of additional off docks. “At least 20 more off docks are needed to smoothly handle Bangladesh’s growing export-import trade,” they claim.
Last July the off docks were chocked up with boxes, close to their total capacity, due to the pandemic-related shutdown and Eid linked long holidays.
Following that, the National Board of Revenue decided to approve without delay the applications for new inland box depots, which will meet the requirements.
Sharar Nayel
Bangladesh Correspondent
