The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued new instructions to avoid the risk of explosions and fires due to flammable and chemical products at the Chittagong Port.
15 types of hazardous goods including pesticides, various chemicals and industrial raw materials, cannot be kept in the port sheds; these products must be unloaded directly from private off-docks.
A recent letter sent by the NBR to the Chittagong Custom House has instructed it to take necessary measures.
According to customs sources, the risk of fire and explosion was increasing due to the accumulation of flammable and chemical products in the port yard for a long time. This decision has been taken to avoid this situation.
Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk said, "If the hazardous products are not unloaded quickly, there is a risk of a major accident." Therefore, these goods are being sent to the off-docks quickly.’
Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder said, ‘If goods are unloaded from the port quickly, the export process will be easier and the pressure on the port will be reduced.’
Chittagong Customs Agents Association President SM Saiful Alam said, ‘Many off-docks do not have the necessary equipment or storage space. If goods are sent in this way, importers may suffer.’
Regarding this, currently 40 percent of Chittagong Port’s export and import container handling is done through 21 private off-docks. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the amount of container handling at the port reached 32 lakh 96 thousand, setting a new record. At the same time, 13 crore metric tons of cargo products were handled.
