ICD policy to undergo major changes

The Inland Container Depot (ICD) policy is going to undergo major changes in the wake of the BM Container Depot fire accident.

In the light of the new policy, the entire private port facilities including all ICDs and custom-bonded area which is currently handling pre-shipment process of all export items of Chittagong Port will have to be redesigned, relevant sources confirmed.

Several government agencies - Fire Services, Chittagong Port and Customs Authorities - are currently investigating the BM Depot accident.

The district administration in Chittagong is conducting further investigation in collaboration with all the agencies. Every organization is investigating the cause of the accident as well as making recommendations to prevent such accidents.

Mentioning that a new ICD policy will be formulated with the recommendations of the organizations, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Nur Uddin Milon said in the light of the recommendations, major changes will be made in the current policy.

With 25 guidelines, mostly revenue related, and six instructions on safety and securities the first-ever off-dock policy titled ‘Private Inland Container Depots (ICD) and Container Freight Station (CFS) Policy-2021’, was adopted on the setting up of private container depots in ports and resolving problems facing the existing investors.

Now custom sources said it required a new policy to run such facilities that handled huge overseas consignments like readymade garments involving banks, customs, shipping agents and many other agencies.

Even after the third week of the incident, the cause of the fire and damage to the BM Depot and the consignments could not be fully ascertained and as a result of which the goods cargoes in the