Around 200,000 tonnes of imported goods, stuffed in 9,644 containers, have been abandoned at Chattogram port for years – occupying 18 percent of its capacity, as customs officials point the finger at lengthy auction processes for the backlog.

The unclaimed goods are not only occupying a huge amount of space but also depriving customs authorities of revenue.

Shipping agents are also losing money as they cannot collect container rents from importers, sources said.

These containers arrived between 2013 and 2024. Customs officials and traders said importers tend to abandon consignments for various reasons.

These include falling local market prices, failure to submit required documents supporting the shipment, and refusal to pay fines for irregularities.

According to port and customs officials, delays in auctions have led to the deterioration of goods and wasted foreign currency.

To speed up the clearance process, Chattogram customs and Chittagong Port Authority have taken a number of steps, including amending auction laws recently.

Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, said, "Unclaimed goods stuffed in containers occupy 18 percent of the port yard. This leaves insufficient space for emergency loading and unloading operations from ships and other regular activities."

The port can house 53,518 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, of which over 10,000 are unclaimed.

"Unclaimed containers at Chattogram port have racked up outstanding rent of around Tk 150 crore, with little hope of recovery," the port authority chairman told The Daily Star.

He said these abandoned containers are hampering regular operations in vital areas of the port. Clearing this backlog will remain a challenge without streamlining and expediting the auction process.

Port data shows that among the 9,644 unclaimed containers, 383 hold perishable goods like apples, oranges, and ginger, while 357 carry hazardous goods, including chemicals.

The remaining boxes contain non-perishable items such as commodities, cosmetics, plastics, automobiles, electronics, leather goods, construction materials, tiles, and ceramics.

Besides, some 453 imported vehicles brought in by 208 companies and individuals remain stuck at the port since 1995, officials said.

Despite goods worth nearly Tk 8,000 crore being stranded, customs has sold only Tk 380.83 crore worth of items through 148 auctions in the past five years, according to auction data.

Md Sakib Hossain, assistant commissioner of Custom House, Chattogram said, "We are working to amend auction rules to speed up the bidding process by taking guidelines from the NBR [National Board of Revenue], finance, and shipping ministries."

He added that 50 customs officials have been assigned to expedite auctions, including inventorying goods and issuing tender notices.

"We will take immediate measures to arrange auctions regularly to avoid such large consignments remaining stuck," he said.

Under customs law, importers must take delivery of goods within 15 days of arrival. Otherwise, customs authorities can begin auction procedures.

Currently, non-perishable goods cannot be sold below 60 percent of their reserve value (import price plus tax) in the first auction.

In subsequent auctions, prices are expected to rise, but bidders often wait for the third auction to get lower rates, according to customs officials.

Completing an auction usually requires three to seven bidding rounds, taking nine months to a year.

Customs sources said the 60 percent reserve value requirement may be relaxed, and online and spot auctions are being introduced to attract more bidders.

Besides, the highest bidder, whether from the government or the private sector, may be allowed to purchase goods through a formal application process.