The congestion of import and export containers at the Chittagong port is gradually clearing, with port activity increasing since Thursday morning.
The backlog had grown when container processing at the country’s main seaport came to a halt after the Government declared public holidays to quell unrest caused by a nationwide student movement.
According to reports, the movement took more than 591 lives as of Thursday 8th August, culminating on 5th August with Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister and fleeing the country.
According to the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), importers are gradually clearing their goods to reduce risks amid security worries.
CPA data shows that around 3,924 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers were released as of 8:00 am on Thursday, with 3,039 TEUs being export-oriented.
However, 41,581 TEUs of import containers are still awaiting release in port yards.
According to CPA authorities, container congestion is progressively diminishing as port activity returns to normal.
Omar Hazzaz, president of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that traders are still postponing the clearance of import and export cargo for fear of theft, as there has been no police presence along the highways for at least two days.
“But the situation is slowly returning to normal,” he added.
Hazzaz also hoped port activities would move ahead at full steam after the interim government is sworn in. The interim Government, headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus, took their oaths on Thursday.
Mahfuz Alam, deputy commissioner of the Chattogram Customs House, said the customs authority has taken various measures to speedily dispose of all sorts of delayed activities, including customs assessment and clearance of various imported cargo.
“We are staying open for extended hours and have increased manpower in various assessment sections, ” he added.
