C T Online Desk: The flow of imported goods in Bangladesh has decreased a lot compared to earlier. Government restrictions, especially on imports of luxury and non-essential goods, and higher margins in opening Letters of Credit (LCs) have reduced
the earlier high levels of imports. Again, many importers are discouraged from opening LCs as the dollar value at banks is
almost equal to the open market dollar value for opening LCs.
Shipping traders said that the stocks of imported goods destined for Chittagong port have decreased in various ports including
Singapore, Colombo, China. As a result, many feeder ships plying on those routes have to wait at the outer anchorage instead of
going to the jetty of the respective ports as there are not enough goods bound for Chittagong port in those ports. The shipping
traders said that the feeder ship company operating on the Chittagong-Singapore or Chittagong-Colombo route previously provided
seven/eight ships but has reduced it in the current situation.
