Bangladesh C&F agents end strike that halted customs clearance for goods at ports

They enforced the strike to press home a series of demands, including a change in the law on licensing

Chattogram Bureaubdnews24.com
Published : 30 Jan 2023, 08:03 AM
Updated : 30 Jan 2023, 08:03 AM

Clearing and forwarding agents have ended a nationwide strike to press home a series of demands, including an amendment to the law on licensing.

Customs operations in Chattogram and across the country came to a halt on Monday morning due to the strike.

The situation normalised after the agents resumed work in the afternoon following assurances by the National Board of Revenue chairman to look into their demands.

Kazi Mahmud Imam Bilu, general secretary of the Chattogram C&F Agents Association, said the leaders of the agents agreed to sit with the NBR chairman on Feb 7 as proposed by the board.

Agents launched protests outside the Chattogram Customs House and stopped submitting any bill of entry required for the customs clearance of goods.

The strike did not affect the loading and unloading of containers at the Chattogram Port.

“We are facing a crisis due to the restrictions in the licensing rules. We have repeatedly been calling for amendments to the existing laws under the HS Code and the customs procedure code," Kazi Mahmud said earlier. 

He said they were also being held liable for the outstanding dues of importers. He alleged these issues had yet to be addressed despite their repeated demands. “We want to do business responsibly and with respect.”