Chittagong Port Authority and Chittagong customs have decided to keep port activities running 24/7, including weekends and public holidays, to address container congestion. This decision came after discussions with key stakeholders at the Chittagong port building, aiming to clear the backlog and expedite the import-export processes, which had slowed significantly due to nationwide unrest, curfews, and a five-day internet shutdown.
Typically, the Chittagong port handles 30,000 to 32,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers, but by Tuesday, the number had surged to 43,578 TEUs—over 81% of the port’s total capacity of 53,518 TEUs. Despite the congestion, port officials are optimistic about reducing the number of containers below 40,000 TEUs within the next three to four days.
The congestion is also affecting the 19 private inland container depots (ICDs) that manage around 90% of the port’s exports. These depots, usually handling 6,000 to 7,000 TEUs of export containers, are now storing nearly double that amount, averaging 15,400 TEUs. Additionally, the port’s dedicated space for containers transported by freight trains is overwhelmed, holding 2,470 TEUs, nearly three times its capacity of 876 TEUs.
To alleviate pressure, the port and customs authorities are offering importers the option to release goods through Chittagong and Chittagong ports instead of the Kamalapur ICD. They also urged the railway authority to increase the daily transportation of containers from the port from the current 80-100 TEUs to at least 200 TEUs, necessitating more railway engines and wagons.
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