Server glitches, pen down strike disrupt Chattogram Custom’s operations
This has resulted in delayed delivery of goods, raising costs and ultimately affecting consumers
Customs operations at Chattogram Custom House have been severely disrupted for the second consecutive day due to ongoing server issues and a pen-down strike by customs officials.
Officials of the Chattogram Custom House observed a sit-in and pen-down strike from 9am to 2pm today (24 June), as part of a countrywide protest demanding the removal of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman and the cancellation of what they term as retaliatory transfer orders.
The movement, led by the NBR Reform Unity Council, is being carried out at all customs stations nationwide.
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On top of the strike, technical glitches in the NBR's customs software — ASYCUDA World — have paralysed the customs clearance process for import and export consignments, officials said.
The system was reportedly sluggish throughout Monday, bringing trade-related activities to a virtual halt.
Although the pen-down protest at Chattogram Custom House was held from 9am to 12 noon on Monday, clearance activities could not resume afterwards due to the system's failure.
Importer C&F agents said the server issues have persisted for an extended period, and despite repeated complaints, no permanent solution has been provided by the authorities.
This has resulted in delayed delivery of goods, raising costs and ultimately affecting consumers, they added.
"There is mounting pressure to release imported goods as the fiscal year draws to a close. But both the pen-down strike and the software problems are severely hampering import-export activities," said Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, general secretary of the C&F Agent Employees Union.
"For the past week, what used to take five minutes is now taking hours. The backlog is growing every day, making timely shipment impossible," he added.
Customs authorities said that software updates are ongoing to incorporate duty changes effective from the new fiscal year. This maintenance work led to the temporary suspension of the system on Monday.
