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The civil aviation and tourism ministry has decided to waive the storage charges on all imported goods waiting at the warehouse of Biman Bangladesh Airlines for delivery.
The ministry on Wednesday asked managing director and chief executive officer of the national flag carrier Md Mokabbir Hossain to take the necessary steps to exempt the importers from payment of the charges on all goods.
The benefit, however, will be applicable for goods imported during the lockdown period between March 26 and onwards and lying undelivered at the Biman’s cargo warehouse at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
Earlier on Tuesday, Biman exempted the readymade garment makers from payment of the charges, known as demurrage, on their goods, mainly raw materials, following a request made by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
The importers enjoy four days’ worth of free time for storing goods at the cargo warehouse.
Biman charges Tk 25 per unit of 50 kilogram each day for the next seven days after the free time ends and Tk 100 per unit each day for the next 10 days.
The importers have to pay Tk 300 per unit each day after the end of 21 days.
Ministry officials said that the government decided to waive the charges as many importers could not have their goods released due to the lockdown during which many factories were closed and movements were restricted.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry had also demanded exemption from the demurrage.
Biman’s cargo warehouse had also become congested due to the slowdown in delivery of goods.
The amount of goods stored at the warehouse surpassed more than 2,000 tonnes against its storage capacity of around 800 tonnes.
Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association director (port and customs) Nasir Ahmed Khan told New Age that the decision would encourage the importers to have their goods released from the warehouse.
A significant amount of goods has been kept out in the open field as the warehouse has reached its maximum storage capacity, he said.
So, the move will also help to reduce the congestion, he said.
(NA)
