CHATTOGRAM, Aug 18: The normal situation of container storage in the yards of Chattogram Port has been restored on Saturday after continuous operational activities of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and Chattogram Customs House (CCH) on Friday and Saturday despite holidays.
"The present stock of containers in Chattogram Port yard is 39,497 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) of container on Saturday,' said Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA.
He said, "It is a normal situation of container stock in the Chattogram Port. We have overcome the critical situation of container congestion operating the port round the clock even in the holidays."
He claimed that the stock of container below 40,000 is considered as normal. He also said that storage capacity of Chattogram Port is 53,518 TEUs of containers.
Besides, the authority Chattogram Custom House (CCH) also continue their operation on Saturday, on the day of holiday for the convenience of importers and exporters.
Due to the recent political unrest, there has been a standstill in various activities related to customs clearance at CCH, sources said.
A large number of containers have accumulated inside the port for the suspension of customs clearance for several days,. Similarly, piles of export goods accumulated in private depots. Customs is handling this situation by increasing the speed of work.
CCH sources said all types of duties have to be deposited in the bank. Only the documentation work is done in the customs house.
Following the continuous operational functions of both CPA and CCH, the delivery of containers was normal even in Friday and Saturday, CPA sources said. The average daily container delivery at Chattogram port during normal times ranges between 3,500 to 4,000 TEUs. On Saturday, due to holiday the delivery of containers in the port was 3153 TEUs.
Meanwhile, the operational activities of Chattogram Port had resumed on August 6 last in full swing after disruption of 18 days following the movement of the anti-discrimination by the students. The operational activities of CPA had been disrupted since July 18 last due to countrywide anti-quota movement of the students.
In most cases delivery of both cargo and containers has been disrupted severely. As a result, the shifting of both import and export has been halted. For this reason, the maritime trade of the country has been badly affected.
The majority of Bangladesh's imports and exports make their way through Chattogram port. Imported goods are delivered from the jetties and private off-docks at the port.
Export goods, particularly readymade garments, go from factories to private off-docks. After the customs clearance process is complete, they are brought to the port and loaded onto ships. The off-dock has to ensure it has a sufficient supply of empty containers for the task. These activities are conducted at 19 private inland container depots, or off-docks, at the port.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Authority and Chattogram customs House have taken the initiative to maintain activities round the clock, even on weekends and public holidays, in a bid to reduce container congestion.
