Ctg port to dispatch 7,000 containers today after two-day NBR 'complete shutdown'

Following a two-day suspension of container handling due to a "complete shutdown" by National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials, the Chattogram port is scheduled to dispatch between 6,000 and 7,000 containers today (30 June) on five vessels.

Port officials said the first ship is expected to depart at 12 noon.

They noted that if these vessels depart on time, the container backlog at the port may begin to clear. Otherwise, further delays are likely.

According to inland container depot (ICD) officials, more than 14,000 containers have piled up across 19 private ICDs due to the NBR shutdown.

Under normal circumstances, the 19 depots collectively hold around 10,000 to 11,000 containers, said Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA).

He added that the backlog includes export, import, and empty containers.

"In the past two days alone, around 3,000 to 3,500 containers were supposed to move from the ICDs to the port for shipment. But due to the shutdown, they couldn't be transported," Sikder said.

"However, we are now sending them to the port for shipment," he added.

Officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) called off their complete shutdown movement last night. They had been protesting to demand the resignation of the NBR chairman and structural reforms, opposing the proposed dissolution of the board.

After the announcement was made, customs officers returned to work at key operational points, including the port's gate, scanning areas, and customs clearance of export goods restarted at the Inland Container Depots (ICDs).

Md Omar Faruk, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), confirmed to The Business Standard that customs officials resumed duties at various locations, including the port gates and scanning units.

"The port operates 24/7. We expect import and export operations to return to normal shortly," he added.

The two-day stalemate at the NBR and most of the ports around the country ended this evening with protesting officials withdrawing their protests hours after the interim government announced revenue and customs jobs as "essential services" and warned of stern action if officials do not return to work.

Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), told TBS that customs officials began working at several depots from 8pm. "All ICDs have started preparing to send stuck export containers to the port.

"We plan to move at least 2,000 TEUs of export containers from 19 depots overnight. The containers scheduled for ships that couldn't load on Sunday are now being sent quickly to the port."

Clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents also confirmed that customs officials resumed duties. The submission of bills of export also resumed at the Custom House, Chattogram (CHC).

SM Saiful Alam, president of the Chattogram C&F Agents Association, said, "As customs officials have resumed export activities at the port, all operations, including delivery of imported goods, customs assessment, and clearance, will hopefully begin in full swing from Monday.

"C&F agents will also resume regular duties from Monday morning."

Export operations at the country's largest seaport had been at a complete standstill since Saturday due to the absence of customs officials. At least four vessels were unable to depart the port because they could not receive containers from the ICDs.

More than 3,000 containers — including both export and empty containers — remained onboard, while nearly 4,000 containers were stuck at the depots.

According to the CPA, 10 container vessels are currently berthed at the port's jetties, while 19 more ships are waiting at the outer anchorage.