Apparel manufacturers from now will not be required to pay extra charges to shipping agents and vessel operators. The decision came following a meeting between Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) members and Chittagong Joint Forces commander in Chittagong on May 3. According to the decision, BGMEA members will pay a fixed amount of $43.40 and $65.10 in terminal handling charges for twenty-foot equivalent units and forty -foot equivalent units of full load containers respectively at the export level.

Earlier, the exporters were forced to pay main line operators and shipping agents additional Tk 2,000 and Tk 4,000 in various kinds of charges and surcharges for twenty equivalent feet and forty equivalent feet containers. The meeting also took the decision that the exporters will pay $130 and $195 in terminal handling charges for twenty-foot equivalent units and forty-foot equivalent units less container loads.

If there is any additional charge applicable for export and import the freight forwarders should pay that, but in Bangladesh the exporters have to pay the charges. The meeting also hoped the freight forwarding policy will be implemented within the next seven days. The meeting decided to allow importers to take their containers from hook points.