Dhaka, July 31 -- External trade may get in difficulty for a faceoff between the Chittagong Port Authority and shippers over the CPA move to lower the number of vessels plying the seaport channel to heal trade-decelerating congestions.

Sources said the port authority in a meeting on July 20 decided to lower the number of container vessels by 13 per cent from the existing number of ships plying to and fro. But Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) stands opposed to what they see as a trade-squeezing step.

Presently, 118 ships have the permission to ply the route and the authority now wants to cut the number by 15 to avoid queues of container vessels at the outer anchorage and demurrage-incurring ship-wait time off the channel.

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