BGMEA requests extension of the storage rent waiver period at Chattogram Port

BGMEA President Rubana Huq has requested the Chattogram port authority for an extension of the storage rent waiver period at Chattogram port until the general holidays due to the coronavirus lockdown end.

Rubana Huq made the request in an official letter that was sent to the chairman of the Chattogram port authority on Thursday.

At present the waivers of storage rent will remain effective till May 16.

Rubana Huq said that the ready-made garments sector is in a crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. About 50 percent of the raw material needed for this industry comes from China.

Factories and offices in China were closed because of the coronavirus lockdown and the Chinese New Year, so the necessary documents needed to release the containers at the port could not be collected.

The companies that were partly running operations could not facilitate the release of their goods within the stipulated time due to complications in obtaining required documents.

To help the garments industry overcome this crisis, Rubana Huq has requested the port authority chairman to extend the period of rent waivers or demurrage charges in storage of goods as long as the general holidays or lockdowns announced by the government continue.

Secretary of Chittagong port authority, Omar Faruk said, "I have got the letter from the BGMEA president regarding the time limit extension of the waivers for storage rent."

"The issue of extending the storage rent period depends on the decision of the government."

"If the government extends the waiver period then we will facilitate it accordingly", Omar Faruk added.