C T Online Desk: A day-long shutdown by customs officials has severely disrupted operations at Chattogram Port, halting the export of 3,680 containers—mostly ready-made garments—on Saturday alone.
Industry insiders on Sunday said that it was unprecedented in the port’s history.
According to port sources, three ships were scheduled to depart the port on Sunday morning with export cargo. However, the ongoing protest prevented any containers from being cleared or moved from the 19 private container depots to the port. Though a few containers had been loaded before the shutdown, the bulk remained undelivered, leaving AS Cecilia, Express Nilwala, and Hong Da Jin-68 stranded at the jetty.
Shipping officials said these containers were meant for transshipment via Singapore to Europe and the US. With no movement from depots, ships now face delays and potential missed connections.
The shutdown stems from protests over the government’s restructuring of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). On 12 May, an ordinance was issued dissolving the NBR and creating two new departments. Customs officers nationwide began indefinite shutdowns from Saturday, demanding the reversal of this decision and the removal of the NBR chairman.
Imports are also paralysed, with no container deliveries taking place. Ships anchored in the harbour remain unregistered, halting both loading and unloading.
