Chattogram Customs Strike Causes Major Port Disruption and Container Backlog

A five-day work stoppage by officials at the Chattogram Custom House has severely disrupted operations at Bangladesh’s main seaport, causing a backlog of over 4,000 containers and a sharp decline in customs processing activities.

Normally, around 2,000 bills of entry are submitted daily at the Custom House. However, due to the ongoing pen-down strike, the figure has dropped by nearly half, raising concerns about potential losses in customs revenue and mounting trade delays.

According to Chattogram Port data, 40,078 TEU containers were stored in the yard on May 12, which climbed to 44,211 TEUs by May 19—an increase of 4,133 TEUs within a week.

Md Obaidul Hoque Alamgir of the C&F Agents Association said importers are struggling with extra costs. “Due to the pen-down strike, each file is taking longer to process, increasing storage and warehouse fees,” he said.

Md Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Port Authority, added, “The number of undelivered containers has increased, and it will take a few more days for operations to return to normal.”

Despite the slowdown, Deputy Commissioner Saidul Islam stated that officers are working extended hours to minimize disruption. “Even with the strike until 3:00 pm, officers are working until 8:00 pm to clear consignments,” he noted.

Businesses report that prolonged delays have led to rising container storage and warehouse costs, while perishable goods and industrial materials face risks of spoilage and production delays.