DHAKA, June 30 (Alliance News): Operations at Bangladesh’s busiest port, Chittagong Port, came to a complete halt on Sunday after a customs officials’ strike paralysed all shipping activities, threatening significant losses to the country’s vital garment export sector.
According to Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Mohammed Omar Faruq, no offloading or onboarding of goods has taken place since the morning due to the ongoing protest by employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
“The port typically handles 7,000 to 8,000 containers a day. This stoppage is severely affecting the country’s economy,” he said.
Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment exporter, depends heavily on Chittagong Port for its textile trade, which accounts for 80% of the nation’s exports. Industry leaders are warning of dire consequences if the situation is not resolved immediately.
Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), estimated the daily industry losses at $222 million.
“The cost of recovery will be staggering and beyond comprehension. Many factories may face bankruptcy,” he warned.
The strike stems from the government’s plan to restructure the NBR by dividing it into two independent bodies — a move customs officials have been resisting for weeks.
Tensions escalated after a government order banned protesting staff from demonstrating within NBR premises. On Sunday, many employees were stopped from entering their offices.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has urged NBR officials to return to work.
“We hope NBR’s staff will report back to duty, setting aside their unlawful programme that goes against the national interest,” a statement from his office said. “Otherwise, for the sake of the people and the economy, the government will be left with no option but to act firmly.”
Meanwhile, a coalition of 13 business chambers held a press conference on Saturday, calling on the government to find an immediate solution.
They warned that continued disruption could trigger a broader economic crisis.
With cargo piling up at the port and exporters scrambling to meet international orders, pressure is mounting on both the government and NBR staff to de-escalate the standoff before further damage is done.
