Ctg customs to auction Tk 9,000 crore worth of abandoned goods

The Chattogram Customs House is set to auction goods from 442 containers from August 27 to September 16 as part of efforts to clear long-abandoned consignments occupying valuable space at Chattogram Port.

Around 2.4 lakh tonnes of imported goods worth nearly Tk 9,000 crore have been lying abandoned at the port for years, occupying about 18 percent of its total capacity, according to port and customs officials.

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The abandoned consignments, imported between 2013 and 2024, include various chemicals, machinery and machinery parts, fabrics, yarn, plastic waste, tiles, salt, paper, household goods and other items.

The prolonged storage has not only blocked port space but also deprived the government of revenue and caused financial losses to shipping agents.

Customs officials said importers often abandon consignments when market prices fall, original documents or clearance permits are unavailable, or they refuse to pay fines imposed over import irregularities.

To address the backlog, Chattogram Customs has launched two e-auctions involving 442 containers in 210 lots. The initiative is aimed at easing container congestion, increasing port efficiency and preventing the wastage of state resources.

Under a special e-auction, 290 containers in 101 lots will be auctioned. The consignments include chemicals, machinery, plastic waste, chest freezers, pipes, yarn, fabrics, solar modules, salt, paper, tiles and household goods, along with 86 old empty containers. No reserve price has been set for these consignments.

Another 152 containers in 109 lots will be auctioned under another e-auction. The consignments include capital machinery, fabrics, PVC flex banners, chemicals, air-conditioner parts, tiles, stainless steel coils, scanners, badminton rackets, elevators and salt.

The entire auction process will be conducted digitally through the customs e-auction platform to ensure transparency and accountability.

Bidders are required to upload a scanned copy of a security deposit equivalent to at least 10 percent of their proposed bid amount and submit the original documents within the stipulated time.

Port and customs officials said delays in the auction process have allowed many consignments to deteriorate, resulting in further losses and wastage of valuable foreign currency.

The authorities have taken several measures, including amendments to auction rules, to expedite the disposal of abandoned goods.

The National Board of Revenue expects the technology-driven auction process to help increase the operational capacity of Chattogram Port, ease container congestion and ensure more effective management of state resources.