Chittagong port auctions 1,000 long-standing containers to ease congestion

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has taken decisive steps to alleviate container congestion at the country’s main seaport by auctioning off 1,000 long-standing containers over the past two months. 

The move is part of a broader strategy to improve cargo turnover and enhance operational efficiency at Chittagong Port, which handles over 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s maritime trade.

An additional 500 containers are slated for auction next month, with ongoing efforts to transfer the goods from the already auctioned containers to new owners. 

The initiative aims to free up valuable terminal space and accelerate the movement of imports and exports through the port.

The update was shared during the fifth meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), held on Thursday, August 28, at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka. 

The meeting was chaired by Lutfe Siddiqui, Special Envoy for International Affairs to the Chief Adviser, and attended by key economic stakeholders, including Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Chittagong Port Authority, Chittagong Customs House, and representatives from both public and private sector institutions also participated in the discussions.

The port currently holds approximately 6,500 containers that have remained unclaimed or delayed for extended periods. These idle containers have contributed to space shortages and logistical bottlenecks, affecting overall port productivity.

By clearing out these long-standing units through public auctions, the CPA is not only generating revenue but also improving asset utilisation and reducing demurrage pressures on legitimate importers.

Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, disclosed the details following the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka.

Industry experts view the auction drive as a positive development for Bangladesh’s trade ecosystem, noting that faster cargo clearance could reduce logistics costs and improve the country’s competitiveness in global markets.

The CPA, in coordination with customs and revenue authorities, plans to institutionalise such clearance mechanisms to ensure sustained port efficiency and support the nation’s growing trade volume.