In a dramatic escalation of tensions over the recent 41% average tariff hike at Chattogram Port, the Port Users Forum (PUF) has issued a stark ultimatum: shut down the country’s busiest seaport within seven days unless authorities rescind what it calls “unreasonable and exploitative” new charges.
At a packed protest meeting held Saturday afternoon at the Navy Convention Hall, business leaders, shipping agents, transporters, and trade bodies united in condemning the revised tariff schedule—implemented on 15 October—which they say includes increases of up to 440% on key services, threatening to cripple Bangladesh’s export-import ecosystem.
Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, President of the Port Users Forum, delivered the warning bluntly:
“If this issue is not resolved within a week, we will have no choice but to close Chattogram Port. This is not just a Chattogram issue—it’s a national crisis. The port handles 85% of the country’s trade and is the backbone of our national budget. Shutting it will impact every citizen, from factory workers to consumers.”
The protest comes amid mounting anger over specific hikes:
Gate pass fees surged from Tk 57 to Tk 230
Container handling charges jumped from $43.40 to $68 per TEU
Pilotage fees more than doubled—from $357 to $800
Some ancillary service fees, like documentation charges, rose from Tk 12 to Tk 115
Amirul Haque, former director of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry, likened the move to “Mughal-era exploitation,” while BGMEA Director MDM Mohiuddin called it a “Tughlaqi farman”—an arbitrary, irrational decree. “First, American tariffs are squeezing us. Now, our own port is adding fuel to the fire,” he said.
Transporters were among the most vocal. Humayun Kabir Sohel, General Secretary of the Port Truck Owners Association, highlighted the human cost: “We operate 12,000 vehicles. A single trip earns me Tk 2,000–3,000, yet I pay Tk 30,000 in income tax. Now the gate pass alone costs four times more—without even a washroom or canteen for drivers.”
Mohammad Hossain of the Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners Association echoed the frustration: “We pay three layers of taxes. How much more can we bear?”
Saiful Alam, President of the C&F Agents Association, warned of mass unemployment: “Thirteen thousand workers in our sector are already unable to operate under this cost burden. If the tariff isn’t revised, businesses will collapse.”
The forum also criticised the lack of consultation, noting that tariffs were imposed unilaterally despite repeated requests for stakeholder dialogue. Nazrul Islam of the Shipping Agents Association stressed that tariffs must be cost-based, not revenue-driven: “Shipowners will pass these costs to importers and exporters—creating a deadlock across trade and industry.”
Adding to the irony, SM Abu Tayyab, the programme host, pointed out: “While the world worries about Trump’s tariffs, our own government is hiking port fees. This is deeply alarming for investors and exporters alike.”
The PUF confirmed it has already sent a formal letter to the Chief Adviser’s office, demanding an immediate review. With the seven-day deadline now in effect, Bangladesh faces a potential trade paralysis at its most critical maritime gateway—unless a compromise is reached swiftly.