Bangladesh Container Depots Raise Charges After Fuel Price Hike

The Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) increased six service charges for handling import, export, and empty containers by 9.85 percent effective September 21, 2026. The association implemented the hike to cover rising operating costs after the Government of Bangladesh raised the prices of four major petroleum products by Tk 20 per litre, bringing diesel to Tk 135 per litre. The government attributed the price increase to higher import costs resulting from the US war on Iran.

The price adjustments affect several key services, including empty container transportation between Chattogram port and inland container depots (ICDs), export goods stuffing, and import goods delivery. This change impacts a significant portion of the trade pipeline, as approximately 93 percent of export goods are stuffed at the 19 private ICDs located around Chattogram.

The fuel hike has triggered broader requests for rate revisions across the logistics chain. Berth and terminal operators have urged the Chittagong Port Authority to revise contract rates, while the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell has convened vessel owners to discuss freight adjustments. The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association warned that these rising energy and logistics costs will increase manufacturing expenses and erode the global competitiveness of Bangladeshi exports, which declined by nearly 5 percent in 2025.