The government has postponed by one month a planned tariff hike at Chittagong Port after appeals from business leaders, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hossain said.

Speaking at a workshop on customs and port management, Hossain said the increase, driven by rising operating costs and major projects including the Bay Terminal, was necessary. Still, the delay would ease pressure on exporters.

“The government has decided to postpone the rollout of the revised tariff structure for one month,” he confirmed.

The new tariff, averaging a 40–45% rise across port and inland container depot (ICD) services, has drawn strong criticism. Exporters argue charges have been raised without service improvements, while some ICDs hiked fees independently.

Business representatives urged the government to extend the deferral to at least six months and reduce certain charges, citing challenges from global trade headwinds and higher US tariffs.

They also called for a joint task force to address service bottlenecks and speed up container auctions and cargo clearance.

Hossain said a comprehensive National Port Strategy would be finalized by year-end to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and align with global standards. Plans include building cold storage at Mongla Port to handle perishables.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan highlighted efforts to speed up customs, including new scanners and the Authorised Economic Operator system.

Officials also stressed compliance with International Maritime Organization rules and investment in deep seaports to meet future demand.