During the recent Eid-ul-Adha holidays, Chittagong Port was open, although not many containers were delivered. Only 389 TEUs were delivered over three days, with no deliveries noted over the previous two days.
Data from the past shows that there is a comparable pattern of deliveries on the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh, with zero deliveries on the former and less than 1,000 TEUs on the latter.
An extra 4,088 TEUs of containers accumulated over six days, boosting the total from 31,124 TEUs to 35,212 TEUs, despite coordination meetings and directions to facilitate deliveries.
The Chittagong Port Authority secretary, Md. Omar Faruk, expressed optimism that importers will release the containers as soon as possible following the vacations. 4,500 TEUs are typically delivered each day, but recent data revealed sharp declines, including no processing on 18th and 19th June.
The import backlog would be addressed in a week, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). To take advantage of the port’s holiday operations, Shafiqul Alam Jewel of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association stressed that all relevant institutions must continue to operate.
