Customs strike paralyses Chattogram port, halts trade for 5 days

A five-day work stoppage by customs officials at Chattogram Port, Bangladesh’s main seaport, has caused severe disruptions in port logistics in supply chain operations. Over 4,000 containers are now stuck, with container congestion rising from 40,078 TEUs on May 12 to 44,211 TEUs by May 19. The port, which operates best at 35,000 TEUs, is nearing full capacity, risking further delays in shipping ports and freight handling.

The strike has slashed the average daily submission of 2,000 bills of entry to less than half, affecting customs revenue and delaying clearance of perishable goods and industrial raw materials. Importers are incurring escalating container storage and warehouse rent costs, severely impacting business operations.

Daily customs duty collection also plunged dropping to just Tk0.54 crore on May 16, before partially rebounding. The cumulative import revenue from 13 to 18 May 2025 was Tk1,064 crore, down from Tk1,536 crore the previous year.

Although customs officials claim to continue working post-strike hours, supply chain disruptions persist. Experts warn that prolonged delays may affect Bangladesh’s export competitiveness and disrupt smart port and supply chain operations across the region.