Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has urged the government to take immediate action to restore normal operations at Chattogram Port, warning that the ongoing shutdown is severely disrupting the country’s trade and economy.
The chamber noted that Chattogram Port is the lifeline of Bangladesh’s trade, handling nearly 92% of the country’s import and export activities, according to a press release.
On average, around 260,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) are cleared from the port every month, with about 9,000 TEUs handled daily.
However, port operations have remained completely halted since Wednesday (4 Feb), resulting in severe congestion.
According to DCCI, approximately 54,000 containers of goods are currently stranded at the port. Due to delays in clearance, businesses are incurring additional costs ranging from Tk10,000 to Tk15,000 per day per container.
The chamber said the disruption is having a particularly damaging impact on the export sector.
The chamber also warned that if the situation persists, it could have serious consequences for the national economy. There is growing concern that international buyers may cancel or divert purchase orders to competitor countries due to Bangladesh’s inability to ship goods on time.
Although some buyers have temporarily agreed to extend delivery deadlines, DCCI cautioned that prolonged delays could prompt them to source products elsewhere.
With Ramadan approaching, the chamber expressed concern that continued delays in clearing imported goods could lead to price hikes in the domestic market, adversely affecting consumers across all income groups.
The deadlock in cargo handling is also expected to raise operational costs throughout trade and investment activities, placing additional pressure on both businesses and consumers.
Calling for urgent government intervention, DCCI urged authorities to resolve the crisis through discussions with all stakeholders involved with Chattogram Port.
Emphasising the port’s role as the primary driving force of the national economy, the chamber stressed the need for collective efforts by the government, the Chattogram Port Authority, the business community, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted port operations.
NSA
