Ctg port, customs open during Eid, yet supply chain may falter

Highlights

• Banks, shipping agents, freight forwarders expected to remain closed during Eid
• Heavy goods vehicle restrictions on highways another challenge for cargo movement
• Traders say keeping ports open not enough unless banks, logistics also remain active

The Chattogram port, customs, and private inland container depots (ICDs) will remain open during the 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday, but business leaders anticipate disruptions in goods delivery and cargo movement as port-related stakeholders are expected to remain inactive, as seen during past Eid holidays.

In a press release, the Chattogram Port Authority said, except for Eid day (from 8am to 4pm), the port's operational activities will continue 24/7 throughout the holiday. The Customs House will also remain open and has pledged to take similar measures to maintain services.

Mahfuzul Haque Shah, former director of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that simply keeping the port open during the Eid holidays is insufficient to maintain trade flow.

Speaking to TBS, he pointed out that critical supporting institutions — including banks, shipping agents, freight forwarders, customs, plant quarantine stations, BSTI, and goods transport services — must also remain fully operational to ensure uninterrupted product delivery.

"When these institutions shut down completely during the Eid holidays, the delivery process comes to a standstill," he said, adding that a comprehensive plan is necessary to truly benefit from keeping the port open.

Shah also noted that industrial activity is significantly hampered during Eid, as factories and their warehouses close and heavy goods vehicles are barred from highways for at least six days before and after the holiday.

"Even if factory owners want to take delivery of containers, they can't. When operations resume post-Eid, delivery pressure mounts, causing further delays," he added.

The port authority said it has formed a task force and launched a hotline to ensure uninterrupted service to traders. Assistant Traffic Manager (Ship and Yard), Kamrul Islam Majumder, will be available at 01715-163999, while Terminal Manager Md. Saiful Alam can be reached at 01819-321560 for urgent coordination with the task force. Additionally, a customs officer will be assigned to coordinate these efforts in real time.

Similar steps had been taken in the past during major religious holidays to keep port operations functional. However, the actual delivery of imported goods from the port has been minimal.

During the nine-day Eid-ul-Fitr holiday (28 March-5 April), port, customs, and ICDs remained open, but container deliveries dropped from 3,500-4,000 a day to nearly zero, causing a backlog of over 11,000 import containers, port data shows.

"This time, despite the port remaining open, there is concern that container congestion could worsen, especially given the longer-than-usual 10-day holiday," the port authority said.

MDM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, director of Clifton Group — a major garment manufacturer in Chattogram — and a newly elected director of BGMEA, told TBS that although international shipping routes remain active during the Eid break, disruptions in the domestic supply chain pose serious challenges.

"Goods must be loaded onto ships on a strict schedule. Missing that schedule risks losing the connection with mother vessels at transshipment ports. Transport closures delay the arrival of goods at depots, throwing shipping schedules into disarray," he said.

He emphasised that resolving these logistical challenges requires more than just keeping the port open. "All stakeholder organisations must remain active during the holidays to maintain the flow of exports," he added.

'Pvt banks, logistics services should operate during long holidays'

According to traders, Eid holiday should not exceed three days to maintain a functioning supply chain and production system. They also called for private sector banks and logistics services to remain operational during extended holidays.

Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement, told TBS that a continuous 10-day government holiday is unprecedented, both in Bangladesh and globally.

"You can keep the ports open, but if banks are closed, where will businesses issue pay orders? If the government wants to ensure trade continuity, private banks and offices must remain open during holidays," he said.

Chattogram Port has a storage capacity of 53,518 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), though the optimal operational range is 30,000-35,000 TEUs. A recent strike by customs officials had already pushed the container count beyond 45,000.

As of 2 June, the number stood at 38,872 TEUs, and stakeholders fear it may again exceed 45,000 during the Eid break.

According to the port authority, all Full Container Load (FCL) containers — except those under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) — will be transferred to off-docks for two months after Eid on a trial basis to ease pressure on the port. Stakeholders have been urged to make necessary preparations to ensure smooth import and export operations.

Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, said that private ICDs have been operating during Eid for over a decade, with activities halted only on Eid day. Still, supply from ports and depots declines before and after Eid, leading to congestion. Restrictions on truck and van movement during this period also pose challenges for importers.

"Many traders avoid taking deliveries during holidays due to higher transport costs and other logistical complications," Sikder added.

Chittagong Port Authority spokesperson and Chief Personnel Officer Nasir Uddin said, "All port operations, including container delivery, will remain open. But if importers don't take delivery due to other complications, there's little we can do. We expect them to act responsibly to prevent further congestion."