High Court revokes stay, clearing way for collection of increased Chattogram Port charges

The High Court has lifted its stay on the increased fees at Chattogram Port, removing any legal barrier to their collection, according to port officials.

The chamber judge of the Supreme Court revoked the injunction last Tuesday, prompting the Chittagong Port Authority’s chief finance and accounts officer to issue a circular on Sunday for collecting fees at the higher rates.

Chattogram Port Secretary Md Omar Faruk confirmed to agencies, “There is no longer any obstacle to collecting fees at the increased rate.”

The temporary stay had been granted on Nov 9 following a writ petition by the Bangladesh Maritime Law Society. A High Court bench comprising Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua suspended the higher fees for one month.

Following a leave-to-appeal request from the shipping ministry, Justice Farah Mahbub later revoked the stay. Mahiuddin Abdul Quader, lawyer for the petitioner, confirmed the decision to bdnews24.com.

Despite objections from port users and traders, the Chattogram Port Authority had issued a notification on Sept 14 raising fees for various services by up to 41 percent, effective the following day. Users had argued that such steep increases would burden consumers, proposing a rise of 10–15 percent instead.

The port, however, maintained that this was the first increase since 1986, making the hike reasonable given the long interval. On Sept 20, the shipping advisor announced in Chattogram that the new rates would be implemented one month later.