Chattogram Port transport strike disrupts export-import
CHATTOGRAM : Four cargo ships left Chattogram Port, leaving behind 1,756 empty and export containers, disrupting the shipment schedules of 5,000 containers, while an additional 5,000 containers of imported goods piled up in the port yard during a three-day transport strike.
Both export container entry and the delivery of imported goods came to a standstill at the maritime gateway, which handles over 90% of the country’s international trade volume and 98% of its container traffic.
Meanwhile, prime mover (lorry) and trailer workers have returned to work after a three-day strike followed clashes at Faujdarhat DC Park of Sitakunda after the strike was lifted on Friday.
Businessmen reported severe impacts on both exports and imports due to the work stoppages, which caused delays in shipment schedules, longer ship turnaround times and rising storage costs. Workers’ actions, combined with administrative negligence, stalled goods transport, leading to further losses.
Export goods, such as clothes and other industrial products, are typically brought to 19 private depots in Chattogram, where containers are loaded on to ships bound for transshipment ports like Singapore and Colombo, before reaching Europe and America.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, told The Business Standard that the disruption was unprecedented, with 13,000 TEUs in the depots, up from the usual 8,000.
“It could take a week to resolve, with the number of import containers also increasing, further disrupting operations,” he warned.
Garment exporters expressed concern that delays in loading goods could lead to missed deadlines, discounts and shipment cancellations, causing significant losses.
According to Saif Powertech, the terminal operator at Chattogram Port, four ships left on 7 and 8 February without taking 839 TEUs of export containers and 917 TEUs of empty containers.
Nazmul Haque, executive director of Saif Powertech, called the strike a ‘major disaster,’ noting that despite an additional day of waiting, it was impossible to load the booked containers, leading to extra charges and port congestion.
With around 10,000 goods vehicles, including 7,000 prime movers, operating on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, any stoppage causes severe traffic jams that take days to clear. The disruption, caused by the 4 February incident, has negatively impacted the country’s trade, especially before Ramadan.
Prime mover-trailer workers resume operations
The strike was withdrawn at about 8pm on Friday after assurances were provided by the deputy police commissioner (port) during a meeting with labour organisation leaders.
Following this, cargo transport operations resumed smoothly. Full-scale goods transport from the port resumed this morning (8 February).
Abul Khair, general secretary of the Chattogram District Prime Mover and Trailer Workers Union, told The Business Standard, “We had a productive meeting with the deputy police commissioner of the port. He sincerely listened to our demands and agreed to address them, including keeping DC Park closed until a separate road is constructed. The DC Park area has been secured, and assurances have been given for the treatment of and compensation for injured workers.”
On Tuesday evening, clashes broke out between DC Park guards and goods transport workers over vehicle parking issues. This led the Chittagong District Prime Mover and Trailer Workers Union to call a strike, disrupting cargo transport and causing container congestion at the port.
In response, the Chattogram district administration held discussions with the union representatives. The strike was initially withdrawn after assurances, only to be reimposed on Wednesday upon discovering that DC Park had reopened.
To resolve the impasse, the deputy commissioner of the Port Division of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) engaged in further discussions with five representatives from the labour organisation. Ultimately, the workers resumed operations after receiving assurances that DC Park would remain closed.
However, the district administration remains opposed to a permanent closure of DC Park. Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam said, ‘We have temporarily closed DC Park for three days for maintenance. There is no question of a permanent closure. Why should we close DC Park?’
The workers had four key demands: arresting the attackers, ensuring treatment of and proper compensation for the injured, creating alternative routes for accessing DC Park and ensuring overall safety for workers on the roads.