NBR pen-down protest deepens container pileup at Chattogram Port

Despite customs officials returning to work, container handling remains slow, with ships waiting up to six days to dock

Container congestion at Chattogram Port continues to worsen, as clearance delays and vessel queues persist despite customs officers returning to duty after a nationwide walkout.

Although the port can hold up to 53,518 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), it usually operates with around 30,000 to 35,000 containers in the yard.

Under normal conditions, around 4,000 containers are cleared each day.

The disruption began on May 14, when customs officials launched a pen-down protest that brought key processes like duty assessment, bill of entry submissions and physical inspections to a near standstill.

As a result, clearance rates plummeted and the backlog began to mount.

While customs resumed full operations on Monday, container handling remains slow.

According to port data, 42,315 TEUs were piled up at the port on Sunday.

Despite customs officers being back on duty, the backlog rose to 43,827 TEUs by Monday.

Before the strike began, around 37,000 containers were stored at the port.

This had climbed to 43,000 by last Thursday.

Daily clearance remains below average. On Sunday, only 2,749 containers were released. Monday saw a modest improvement with 3,755 cleared, still falling short of the usual figure.

On Sunday, 17 container-laden vessels were anchored in the outer anchorage, waiting to dock.

By Monday, the number had come down to 10.

Before the work stoppage, vessels typically had to wait only one to two days to berth.

Now, the waiting period has stretched to five or six days.

Officials say port operations have not stopped, but customs slowdowns have disrupted flow. Yard space is running out, and the queue of uncleared cargo is growing.

The 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday is expected to slow activity, even with the port technically open.

Industry insiders warn that the backlog could swell again if normal processing is not restored quickly.

Importers and manufacturers are bearing the brunt. Delays in releasing goods have resulted in mounting storage costs and production disruptions.

“The customs officers’ movement was unexpected and damaging,” said Khairul Alam Suzon, director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association. “Reduced delivery rates have led to more containers piling up, especially hitting factory owners who depend on just-in-time cargo.”

Former first vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) SM Abu Tayyab said the impact of the pen-down protest, though not directly targeting the port, is being felt there too.

“The long Eid holidays will worsen the situation. The port is heading towards a crisis,” he added.

He pointed out that garment factory owners are being hit hard, as raw materials for clothing manufacturing are imported and then re-exported after production.

“Due to the delay in clearance and container congestion, many factories are not receiving their raw materials on time. This puts them at risk of missing shipment deadlines and suffering financial losses,” Tayyab added.

To overcome this situation, he urged the port authority to hold an emergency meeting involving stakeholders such as BGMEA, shipping agents, C&F agents, banks, and customs officials to formulate a joint action plan.

Chattogram Port spokesperson Nasir Uddin told bdnews24.com, “All ports are running normally. The number of containers has increased slightly due to the pen-down strike, but container handling and delivery have improved since the withdrawal.”

A customs assistant commissioner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officials had continued working outside the designated protest hours. “We’ve been instructed to clear backlogs before leaving for the day, and all staff are complying with that,” he added.