Customs services halted as protests hit imports, exports, cargo delivery

Export, import, cargo delivery and related operations at Chattogram Port have slowed as customs officials joined the “complete shutdown” initiated by National Board of Revenue (NBR) staffers.

Vessel loading and unloading, however, remained unaffected.

Officers and employees of Customs House in Chattogram refrained from work from Saturday morning as part of the nationwide shutdown, bringing key functions such as tariff assessment and bill of entry submissions to a halt.

While operational activities continued, the absence of customs officials caused a standstill in cargo delivery processes at the port.

A Chattogram Port officer, who asked not to be named, said: “Our operational work is continuing. Cargo delivery is still happening. But if the customs shutdown continues, there will be an impact.”

Khairul Alam Suzan, Director of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association, said: “The shutdown by NBR staff will impact import-export activities and cause container congestion at the port.”

He noted that a previous pen-down strike by NBR officers had already caused severe disruption.

“That earlier programme led to serious container backlog and import-export delays. Just as we were recovering, this new agitation is untimely and unwelcome,” he said.