Ctg Port strike paused for two days, but 6-day standoff already costs Tk3,000cr
Workers threaten to resume strike if DP World deal not cancelled
Highlights:
- Business leaders estimate Tk3,000 crore losses from six-day strike
- Trade bodies warn of supply disruptions ahead of Ramadan
- Businesses say prolonged standoff could pose wider economic risks
- Workers agree to postpone strike for two days after talks with shipping adviser
- They warn work stoppage to resume on Sunday if NCT deal plan not withdrawn
Port operations in Chattogram are set to resume this morning after workers and employees agreed to a two-day postponement of their work abstention following a high-stakes meeting with Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.
The breakthrough came yesterday afternoon after six consecutive days of disruption that had effectively paralysed the nation's primary maritime gateway. However, the standoff remains precarious; labour coordinators warned that the strike would resume on Sunday unless the government retreats from its plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.
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The day began with significant friction as the adviser's convoy was surrounded by protesting workers upon his arrival at Bandar Bhaban. Following hours of discussions with a 14-member labour delegation, the adviser made it clear that while certain demands could be met, the leasing agreement itself was not off the table.
"The agreement itself cannot be blocked," Shakhawat told reporters. He noted that while the terms and implementation remain open to discussion, keeping the port closed – especially with essential Ramadan goods awaiting clearance – is "inhumane."
Ibrahim Khokon and Humayun Kabir, coordinators of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad, confirmed that two of their four primary demands had been accepted. These include withdrawal of transfer orders issued against port employees and assurances against legal action for workers involved in the movement.
The adviser also promised to discuss the demand to cancel the NCT deal with the chief adviser within the next two days. The workers' demand for the removal of the port authority chairman is also under consideration, worker leaders said.
Mounting economic losses
The six-day disruption has already inflicted significant economic damage, according to business leaders, who estimate losses of at least Tk3,000 crore.
Former director of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries Amanullah Al Sagir said thousands of import and export containers remained stranded at the port and at Inland Container Depots (ICDs).
"Importers are facing storage charges ranging from Tk10,000 to Tk100,000 per day," he said. "Exporters who missed shipment schedules are being forced to consider air freight to avoid order cancellations, which significantly increases their costs."
Shipping companies are paying demurrage of between Tk20 lakh and Tk35 lakh per day, while transport agents are incurring additional daily charges of Tk5,000 to Tk10,000, he added.
"There are many other additional costs that importers and exporters have to bear. The estimated economic damage has reached at least Tk3,000 crore," Amanullah said.
Beyond direct financial losses, he warned of reputational damage to Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector and to the port itself.
Sarwar Hossain Sagar, chairman of the Bangladesh Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association, said the additional costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers.
"So the ultimate losers will be the people of the country," he said
Ctg Port crisis fuels export fears, price concerns; trade bodies to meet this evening
Trade bodies sound alarm
Ten leading business organisations, in a joint statement issued after an emergency meeting at the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association office in the capital, urged authorities to resolve the impasse immediately.
Signatories included the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"A single day of port closure causes direct losses of several thousand crores of taka," the organisations said, warning that the continued standstill at the country's principal seaport risked severe and potentially irreparable economic damage.
They cautioned that prolonged disruption could lead to major export order cancellations and prompt foreign buyers to shift sourcing away from Bangladesh.
"Raw materials for export-oriented industries are not reaching factories on time, while finished goods are piling up at ports awaiting shipment. Exporters are unable to meet delivery deadlines set by international buyers," the statement said.
Describing the shutdown as tantamount to closing the heart of the national economy, the trade bodies also warned of rising costs and supply shortages ahead of Ramadan.
"Imported essential commodities are likely to be delayed in reaching the market. This may lead to artificially high prices, pushing essential goods beyond the reach of common people," the statement added.
They further cautioned that the crisis was fuelling container backlogs, raising demurrage and storage costs, and creating instability in bank financing and letter of credit management, posing risks to the wider financial sector.
While port operations are due to resume on Friday, the warning from labour leaders that protests could restart within days means the standoff over the NCT lease remains far from resolved.
