Container and cargo handling has increased at Chattogram Port in the financial year 2023-2024 compared to the previous year despite a decrease in ship arrivals.
The port authorities said that the number of containers and cargo handling has increased this financial year due to the larger size of the vessels that have started arriving at the port.
Although the exchange rate of the dollar is high, the import and export trade of the country is accelerating, they said.
According to port sources, 31 lakh 68 thousand 690 TEUS have been handled by Chattogram port in the main seaport of the country in the fiscal year 2023-24. 30 lakh 7 thousand 375 TEUS (20 feet length units) were made in the previous financial year. The container handling of Chattogram port has increased by 1 lakh 61 thousand 315 TEUS. Which has increased by 5.36 percent compared to the previous year.
Besides, Chattogram port has handled 11 crore 82 lakh 97 thousand 643 tons of cargo in the fiscal year 2022-2023. 12 crore 32 lakh 42 thousand 748 tons have been handled in the fiscal year 2023-2024.
As a result, cargo handling at the port has increased by 49 lakh 45 thousand 105 tons, which has increased by 4.18 percent over the previous year. 3 thousand 971 vessels have been handled in the fiscal year 2023-2024 at Chattogram sea port. Earlier in the fiscal year 2022-2023, the port handled 4 thousand 253 vessels. A total of 282 fewer ships have been handled at the port than in the previous financial year. But despite the decline in ship handling, container and cargo handling at the port has increased compared to the last financial year.
Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruq said that even though the arrival of ships has decreased, but more big ships have arrived. But our cargo and container handling has increased. This is positive for the economy.
FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said that the increase in handling of cargo containers is positive. The number of ships would have increased if not for the dollar crisis and the country's gas crisis. However, Chattogram Port Authority (CPAL Chairman Mohammad Sohail said that Chattogram Port will be hub of South Asia. Hiring foreign operators at the port will increase foreign earnings. Started port management on landlord system.
