The readymade garment sector of Bangladesh, which is considered the lifeline to the country’s economy, has opposed the recent hike in import container handling charge of 35 per cent by the inland container depots (ICDs) or off-docks.
It may be mentioned here following the recent fuel price hike, the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association or BICDA on 11 August increased import container handling charges by 35 per cent.
In written communication with the ICD owners, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has, reportedly, mentioned ‘hiking off-dock charges without the approval of the Shipping Ministry Tariff Committee was completely illegal’.
Meanwhile, in a letter to written to BICDA opposing the hike, BGMEA First Vice-President Syed Nazrul Islam, reportedly, maintained that as per the Shipping Ministry’s ICD policy, the approval of the Tariff Committee was a must for any charge hike by the private off-docks.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
