CCH issues notices to users for clearing dumped cargoes

Chittagong: The authority of Chittagong Customs House (CCH) issued notice on Wednesday to clear cargoes lying dumped for a long time at Chittagong Port sheds.

The CCH in this regard held a meeting with the stakeholders of port and customs on Wednesday morning to resolve space problem inside the port, official sources added.

The Commissioner of CCH, Farid Uddin said that customs revenue of Tk 1,200 crore remained stuck up against those imported and dumped goods worth about Tk 8,000 crore.

‘Some of the imported consignments to our surprise remained stockpiled for the past several years,’ he said.

‘How long can we bear it while the importers indulge in using the port areas as the ‘warehouse’ or ‘showroom’ of their cargo?’ he said, adding ‘the port sheds are now over-congested as the traders take delivery of goods slowly.’

‘The importers wait for high prices keeping their goods dumped inside the port for months or years together. As a result, it creates a backlog in cargo discharge’ he added.

‘Now we issued the notices to all consignees of dumped cargoes to take delivery within 15 days on receipt of the notice, otherwise we will be forced to put those cargoes on auction as soon as possible,’ the Commissioner said.

‘We held the meeting with stakeholders to make them aware of the deadlock as well as to expedite the process of delivery,’ he added.

‘We have the only alternative to go for immediate auctioning if the consignees fail to respond to our call,’ he added.

Port and Customs sources said that the goods dumped inside the port sheds here included 4,000 vehicles, industrial raw materials, machineries, different accessories and timbers