The Kamlapur Inland Container Depot (ICD), a key gate of the country’s external trade in Dhaka, has been congested following slow delivery of goods.
As of Tuesday noon, it has over 5,000 TEUs (20 foot equivalent units) against its capacity of 4,000 TEUs.
“We have no space to store at the yard,” Ahmedul Karim, in-charge- of the Dhaka ICD, told The Financial Express (FE).
He said at least three trains carrying import from Chittagong port are waiting at different parts of Dhaka-Chattagram rail line.
The railway communication involving carrying goods and containers has remained stopped for two days till today (Tuesday) on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr.
Mr Karim said at least 3,000 containers having imported goods meant for industrial zones of Dhaka and its peripheral areas, remained stockpiled here.
He, however, said many importers may take delivery from the ICD to take advantage of the tariff cut.
The Ctg Port has notified that consignees who will take delivery within May 30 get 50 per cent cut on the store rent. This is effective from May 17. And the containers staying at the depot since March 26 to May 16 will get 100 per cent waiver on the store rent.
Dhaka ICD is an extended part of Ctg port and also partnered with Bangladesh railway.
In the meantime, there are over 100 TEUs of containers lying at the Ctg port meant for Dhaka ICD.
The ICD was established in 1987 by the then Hossain Mohammad Ershad government to facilitate industrial units located in Dhaka and its adjoining areas.
Currently around 70 wagons ply a month on the Dhaka Ctg rail route carrying industrial goods, diplomatic goods and other commercial products.
It earned Tk 791 million in 2019 by handling nearly 100,000 TEUs in 2019.
