The recent customs-related work stoppages at Chittagong Port have once again exposed the fragility of Bangladesh’s most critical trade gateway.
As the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) formally requests loss estimates from shipping agents, it is evident that the impact of the shutdowns in June has been far more than a temporary inconvenience — it has created serious logistical and financial consequences for the nation’s trade ecosystem.
According to a report published in this newspaper on Sunday, customs officials’ complete shutdown on 28 and 29 June, along with a series of pen-down strikes totalling 59 hours between 14 May and 26 June, brought operations at the port to a near standstill.
These actions resulted in severe delays in customs clearance, vessel handling, and cargo movement, triggering increased demurrage, congestion, and rising costs for shipping agents and businesses alike.
With over 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s international trade passing through Chittagong Port, even minor disruptions carry outsized consequences.
The recent strikes represent more than an internal administrative matter; they reflect a national vulnerability that has the power to disrupt supply chains, raise import-export costs, and erode investor confidence.
We commend the CPA and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for initiating formal assessments of the financial fallout.
The CPA’s request to shipping agents and the formation of a dedicated task force to compile data a necessary steps in ensuring accountability and long-term resilience.
However, these actions must be followed by structural reforms to prevent such disruptions in the future.
Customs and port operations are not only technical processes but strategic pillars of the national economy.
Any work stoppage — no matter how justified in its cause — must be managed in a manner that does not compromise national trade interests. Grievances must be addressed through institutional dialogue and reforms, not through actions that stall critical infrastructure.
The government must now take this opportunity to introduce binding protocols that ensure uninterrupted customs and port services, particularly during disputes.
Furthermore, an independent audit of the recent disruptions could provide insight into systemic weaknesses that allowed the situation to escalate unchecked.
Bangladesh’s aspiration to become a regional logistics hub cannot be realised without a modern, efficient, and resilient port system. Chittagong Port must be protected from administrative impasses, with all stakeholders working in partnership to preserve the flow of trade — the lifeblood of the national economy.
