The 18 private off-docks of the country, key subsidiaries of the Chittagong Port, have consistently achieved growth in import and export container handling each year. This upward trend continued in 2024, despite no new off-docks being established in this sector requiring substantial investment. The existing off-docks have efficiently managed the growing trade’s export and import containers.
According to the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), the off-docks handled 750,559 TEUs of export containers in 2024, compared to 661,152 TEUs in 2023. This marks an increase of 89,407 TEUs, achieving a 13.52% growth in export container handling.
Similarly, in 2024, the off-docks managed 268,449 TEUs of import containers, up from 216,537 TEUs in 2023. This represents an additional 51,912 TEUs and a growth rate of 23.97% in import container handling.
In addition to handling nearly 100% of export containers and a significant portion of import containers, the off-docks also store empty containers from the Chittagong Port. In 2024, the off-docks stored 624,302 TEUs of empty containers, compared to 582,625 TEUs in 2023. This effort plays a critical role in preventing congestion at the port.
In many neighboring countries, such as India, goods are delivered directly from off-docks outside the port. However, in Bangladesh, the practice requires goods to be delivered by unloading containers within the port. This necessitates the entry of a large number of trucks and covered vans into the port, causing traffic congestion in the city.
To address this, the ICD policy has proposed establishing off-docks at least 20 kilometers outside the Chittagong Port to facilitate goods delivery activities away from the city. Various stakeholders, including the Chittagong Port Authority, have repeatedly demanded that LCL (Less than Container Load) container goods be delivered outside the port. A petition has also been submitted to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for approval.
Recently, Shipping Advisor Brigadier General (Retd.) M. Sakhawat Hossain recommended the NBR Chairman facilitate the delivery of LCL container goods from outside the port. However, this recommendation remains pending due to various administrative reasons.
BICDA President Nurul Qayyum Khan highlighted that currently, only 38 types of imported goods are allowed to be unloaded from off-docks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all types of goods were allowed to be unloaded from off-docks to alleviate congestion at Chittagong Port. At that time, off-docks demonstrated their capability by handling approximately 45,000 TEUs of containers per month without any issues. However, despite their proven capacity, some stakeholders continue to raise questions about the off-docks’ activities.
BICDA Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder Biplob emphasized the need to cancel the restriction limiting off-docks to handling 38 specific types of imported goods. He called for the allowance of all types of goods to be delivered from both the port and off-docks. Meetings have been held with customs authorities to address these concerns and streamline the process, with the latest meeting taking place on January 6