The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has formally requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to permit shipping agents and main line operators (MLOs) to store empty containers at suitable non-bonded locations. This move aims to alleviate the growing congestion currently affecting both the port and private depots.
The authority argues that the existing regulatory framework, which mandates bonded warehouse licences for such storage, is exacerbating the backlog. The accumulation of empty containers has been attributed to a widening gap between import and export volumes, necessitating more flexible storage solutions to maintain operational efficiency.