Container backlogs at the Chittagong port have returned as daily deliveries have slowed due to flash floods that have disrupted traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. According to transport service providers, some activity had partially restarted on Sunday.
However, they also mentioned that the roadway that links the city to the port of Chittagong, which processes around 90 per cent of the country’s trade, has been hampered by damaged roads.
On Monday, the figure was 37,996 TEUs, which was an increase from 36,642 TEUs on Friday.
According to port data, an additional 3,674 TEUs are awaiting unloading from 16 container ships at the port jetties.
Concurrently, there has been a slowdown in the export-oriented goods shipment.
Export containers were shipped in approximately 4,241 TEUs yesterday, compared to 5,231 TEUs on Friday.
The Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) vice-president, Khairul Alam Suzan, stated to the regional media that “since Monday morning, there has been a slight increase in transportation along the highway.” More vehicles intended for exportation are arriving at private depots than in the previous few days.
“It will take a few days to normalise. The highway needs to be repaired quickly to normalise the situation. Many parts of the highway have been severely damaged due to the floods,” he said.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Md Omar Faruk said the situation had not deteriorated too much, adding that deliveries would return to normal within two or three days.
“We have faced various problems for the last one and a half months due to the students-led protests and a nearly week-long internet blackout. The situation was brought back to normal by keeping all kinds of activities open on weekends and holidays. Port activities were even conducted manually in the absence of the internet,” he said.
“Implementing these initiatives helped reduce container congestion but it has returned due to the recent floods. However, some steps have been taken to keep export-import activities running smoothly,” he added.
He added that the situation would improve once the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway becomes fully operational.
Mahbubul Alam, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), echoed the same, “The container congestion has arisen again as floods inundated multiple areas of the highway. But the situation in those areas is improving now. We hope the highway will run smoothly within a short time.
“More than 80 per cent of the country’s import and export goods are transported through the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. Port activities will not return to normal until this road is fully opened,” he said.
