Dhaka, Sept. 2 -- Business Report

The Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) has announced that from September 1, container handling charges at inland container depots (ICDs) will increase by 20% to 80%. Exporters Andrew and freight forwarders warn the move will severely impact the export sector, raise costs, and further intensify the ongoing foreign currency crisis, with negative consequences for the national economy.

At a press conference held yesterday at the Sagor-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity, members of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) strongly protested the hike, calling it "abnormal and unjustified."

Exporters complained that ICD charges are already nearly double those at seaports...