The activities at Chittagong Port, Customs House and Inland Container Depot (ICD) resumed in full swing on Monday as National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials withdrew their strike.
As customs officials joined work, transportation of export goods also started at the country’s prime seaport. In addition to unloading of import goods, shipping of export goods was also underway.
The export-import activities were going on normally at Customs House since Monday morning. Along with customs officials, C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agents were also working actively.
Customs officials started working immediately after the shutdown was withdrawn. In this regard, bill of entry, bill of export and customs clearance started at Customs House. As a result, the deadlock ended at private off-docks.
Customs officials said that all the processes, including import valuation and clearance, were currently being completed smoothly.
Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md. Omar Faruk said, “All activities, including container delivery at the port, are now fully operational. Excess containers piled up will be released quickly."
Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary General of BICDA, an organisation of ICD owners, said, “About 3,000 containers have not reached the port in last 36 hours. Export container transport has started since Sunday night. We are trying to ensure that no ship leaves the port without export goods."
Despite attempts over phone, Chattogram Customs House spokesperson Saidul Islam could not be reached for his comments in this regard. However, a customs official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that all officials had joined work on Monday morning.
Earlier, three ships could not depart from New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) as 1,849 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit) of export containers from ICD could not reach the port on time.
Saif Powertech Terminal Manager Mosharraf Hossain said that most of the containers arrived at the port last night. In addition, most of the containers arrived on Sunday night. “We hope that three ships that could not depart on Sunday will leave Monday with the scheduled containers. Import-export activities have been normal both at NCT and CCT yards since Monday morning.”
The official concerned said that it will take few days to export 4,000 TEUs of goods- loaded containers that have been stuck in the last two days.
Export goods were supposed to be shipped in the last two days. These ships will go to Singapore or Colombo and catch mother vessels heading towards Europe and America. However, due to the shutdown, there are concerns about whether mother vessels can finally receive goods. Traders are also worried about whether buyers can finally receive these goods.
C&F agents said that transportation of consignments for which delivery documents were completed has started since Sunday night. The port returned to full operations.
Chittagong C&F Agents Association President SM Saiful Alam said, “Activities resumed on a limited scale since Sunday night. Work has been going on in full swing since Monday morning. We are calling on all parties to work actively to ease container jam and expedite the export process.”
An official of Chittagong Customs said that customs house earns about Tk 200 crore in revenue per day. Many people think that the government is losing revenue. It is not true. We will get this revenue.”
