Leaders of exporters' associations, shipping lines and other stakeholders together held a meeting to devise a way out for resolving a crisis in sending export cargoes from Bangladesh, mainly caused by shortage of empty containers and vessels.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, Vice President Md. Shahidullah Azim, Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin, Directors Md. Mohiuddin Rubel, Asif Ibrahim, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Haroon Ar Rashid and Rajiv Chowdhury took part in the meeting held at BGMEA office in Dhaka on July 6. First Vice President of BGMEA Syed Nazrul Islam and Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury also attended the meeting virtually.

President of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BFFA) Kabir Ahmed, First Vice President of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Jowher Rizvi, First Vice President of BKMEA Mohammad Hatem, Director of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Syed Nurul Islam, Director of Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) Ziaur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Garments Accessories & Packaging Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) Md. Abdul Kader and Chairman of Bangladesh Terry Towel & Linen Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BTTLMEA)  M Shahadat Hossain were present at the meeting. 

Shortage of empty containers and vessels and congestion at regional transhipment ports have led to severe crisis, hindering shipment of export cargoes to Europe and the USA.

Besides, empty container vessels are taking time to return to Bangladesh from the European and US ports due to slow unloading there, causing container and vessel shortage in the Chattagram port.

In the meeting they decided to work together and seek the government’s intervention in the following issues to address the problem: 

Directing authorities concerned not to increase any charges fixed by freight forwarders/shipping lines during Covid period.

Following appropriate methods while using empty containers and maintaining coordination among shipping line companies to ensure proper use of empty containers.

Requesting the port authority to allow more feeder vessels to berth at the port to address the container and vessel shortage.

Arranging an export yard on temporary basis to facilitate loading-unloading of cargoes at the private inland container depots (ICDs).