Chattogram port, the country’s primary trade gateway, has resumed full operations after a six-day hiatus, with container loading, unloading, and delivery back in full swing.
During a visit to the port today, The Business Standard observed that prime movers, trucks, and covered vans were active at all 12 gates.
Containers were being loaded and unloaded across all yards at the three terminals: General Cargo Berth (GCB), Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
Officials said as the port operations were closed since last Thursday (18 July), there is an increased pressure to clear the backlogs.
According to official data, the port handles 3,500-4,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers every day
Some 3,000 TEUs of containers were delivered on Wednesday (24 July). The number was expected to cross 4,500 TEUs today.
Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk told TBS, “All activities of the Chattogram Port are now completely normal. Due to reduced deliveries, the extra containers accumulated in the yards will be cleared within next week.”
He said the pressure of additional containers began to increase on Tuesday (23 July) night.
Officials said the recent internet blackout forced the customs to manually clear containers for two days till 20 July. No container was delivered in the next two days.
As the internet came back on a limited scale, the customs began to clear the containers for release.
Quazi Mahmud Imam, secretary general of Chattogram Customs C&F Agent Association, said, “Customs clearance has become completely normal due to internet connection restoration. Customs officials are also speeding up the clearance of consignments.”
Meanwhile, visiting the port for a food distribution programme yesterday, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the ministry will consider whether the additional charges incurred due to the delay in taking delivery of containers at the port can be waived.