CHATTOGRAM, Feb 10: The ten- day strike of the workers and staff of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) on the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease deal with DP World have caused a colossal loss to the national economy as well as the maritime trade.
According to trading circles, the strikes have caused massive economic disruption, with over 90 per cent of trade paralyzed.
Strikes led to over Tk 10,000 crore worth export goods being stuck, significant demurrage costs for importers, and supply chain bottlenecks for essential goods ahead of Ramadan. The strikes also created risks of order cancellations and increased shipping costs for the garment sector, one of the most significant sector for export trade of the country.
Nearly 70 per cent of the port's 59,000-TEU of container capacity was filled, with over 41,000 TEUs stacked.
The importers have been facing high demurrage charges (Tk 10,000-Tk 15,000 per container), which will likely be passed on to consumers, accelerating inflation.
The work stoppage at Chattogram Port has reduced container handling by around 40 percent, disrupting import, export, and inland supply chains. Thousands of trucks remain stranded as congestion builds and logistics costs rise, including storage fees, vessel demurrage, and transport penalties. Business leaders warn the disruption could fuel price pressures on essential goods ahead of Ramadan if operations are not restored quickly.
According to CPA sources, a probe committee has been constituted to assess revenue loss from work stoppage, identify individuals responsible.
According to the order, the committee has been tasked with determining the extent of revenue loss resulting from the work abstention, preparing a list of responsible individuals and recommending ways to recover the losses from those found liable.
The CPA has formed a multi-agency committee to assess the government's revenue losses caused by a work stoppage and suspension of operational activities at the port on 31 January, and to identify those responsible. The decision was made through an office order issued by the CPA's Director (Administration) Mohammad Omar Faruk, following a programme announced by a group of port employees under the banner of a labour organisation to halt work and operations.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the CPA chairman within five working days.
According to Chattogram port, 115 vessels were waiting for cargo handling at the port. Of them, 96 were anchored at the outer anchorage and 14 were at the jetty. The waiting vessels included 12 container ships, 29 carrying general cargo, 22 mother vessels loaded with food grains, 5 carrying fertiliser and 5 carrying sugar.
