Chattogram Bureau :
Nineteen offdocks (ICD) of the country handling 100% of the export products are overcoming their crisis and returning to normalcy. On an average, 2200 TEUs are being emptied from offdocks every day by shipping containers of export goods. But even a few days ago this picture was completely opposite. Containers of export products were increasing day by day. But shipping was not possible . The concerned people have mentioned three reasons behind the reduction of containers of export products.
Quoting Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depo Association (BICDA), an organization of private offshore outlets . Media was informed that there were three significant reasons behind the decline in containers of export goods. These are, a few days ago, shipping agents were not booking new containers of export goods. It has turned on again. The port authority has increased the number of berthing ships from 11 to 12 and at the same time giving priority berthing to ships bound for Colombo. Due to these reasons container shipping of export products has increased.
He added that another reason behind the reduction in container of export products was that all kinds of factories were closed for 12 days during Eid-ul-Azha and severe lockdown and no new export products came. Due to this opportunity, the amount of export products has been reduced. Meanwhile, Khairul Alam Sujon, vice-president of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, said that there is a fear that the pressure on export containers will increase again in the future due to the reopening of export factories.
He said the main reason for the reduction in containers of export goods from offdock was the Eid holiday and the closure of factories during the lockdown.
However, now that the factory has been reopened, the exported goods will start coming to the offdocks again in the next 12/15 days. So the amount of ships now available for export and the berthing of the Colombo bound ship needs to be maintained for at least another month.
Otherwise, there will be a fear of increasing the pressure off the container of exported goods again.Besides, containers of export goods are also frozen in the offdocks of the country. As a transshipment port, Colombo Port handles 50 percent of Bangladesh’s exports and Singapore Port about 35 percent. The rest of the containers are transported to Port Kelang, Malaysia and Tajing Pelapas of China.
The port authorities took initiative to resolve the issue. Six special ships bound for Colombo were arranged and ships of that route were given priority. As a result, it is possible to ship a large quantity of export goods from Offdocks. port users sources said.
