BM Container depot resumes cargo handling

The privately-owned BM Container Depot yesterday resumed handling export cargoes, albeit on a limited scale, after receiving permission from the customs authority to handle only garment shipments for the next three months.

The inland container depot (ICD), which began operations after more than four-and-a-half months since a deadly explosion on its premises on June 4, secured permission in this regard on nine conditions.

As per the conditions, the depot will not be allowed to handle any dangerous goods, including chemical goods, for shipment through Chattogram port within the permitted period.

Other conditions include mandatory collection of no objection certificates from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA),  and meeting all conditions mentioned in the Private ICD/CFS Policy-2021 and Bonded Warehouse Licensing Rules-2008.

In addition, the depot must abide by fire safety measures based on the Fire Prevention and Fighting Act- 2003, install necessary container and cargo handling equipment as per CPA regulations and approved bonded warehouse license, bring the whole ICD and CFS area under CCTV coverage, and set up backup storage at different spots outside the ICD within the three months.

The ICD authority will also have to collect a fire safety plan approved by the fire service and civil defence office and implement it on a regular basis, said a senior official of Custom House Chattogram.

Also, they will have to arrange a separate yard and shed for storing and handling dangerous goods and chemical items as per the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code within the next three months, he added.

On June 4, a fire and explosion at the BM Container Depot claimed the lives of 51 people while more than 200 were injured and a huge quantity of import and export containers were damaged.

Immediately after the accident, the Custom House Chattogram suspended all import and export operations through the private ICD.

Following repeated appeals from the depot authority and requests from different trade bodies, including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on October 19 gave the nod and directed the customs house to give clearance in this regard.

Following the NBR's directive, the customs house on Monday (October 24) gave the depot temporary permission for partially handling exports, said a senior customs official.

If the conditions are not implemented within the stipulated time, the permission will be cancelled automatically, he added.

Earlier on August 22, the customs authority gave the depot conditional permission to handle empty containers.

BM Container Depot, a concern of Smart Group, is one of 19 privately owned ICDs through which 100 per cent of the country's export cargoes, empty containers and import containers carrying 38 types of goods are handled.

Captain Mainul Ahsan, executive director of Smart Group, confirmed that they started handling export cargoes from yesterday after receiving permission from the customs office.

He said they already took several fire safety measures, including setting up a high-power water pump, while the installation of a water-cum-foam hydrant system with 2.50 lakh gallon capacity reservoir tank is ongoing.