Goods worth around Tk 80 billion are currently stranded at Chattogram Port

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham Bangladesh) has again voiced serious concern over the continuing paralysis at Chattogram Port, warning that it is inflicting growing economic damage and posing a major threat to export activities. The chamber also cautioned that Bangladesh’s supply chain is losing credibility in the global market.

Port operations have nearly ground to a halt following a recent work stoppage, creating widespread uncertainty in the movement of goods and containers.

EuroCham said about 13,000 containers, carrying goods valued at an estimated $660 million (around Tk 80 billion), are currently stuck at the port. This has disrupted export schedules, made on-time deliveries increasingly difficult, and sharply driven up logistics costs.

Against this backdrop, EuroCham urged the authorities to immediately restore normal operations at the port. It called for a swift resolution to the dispute in the interest of the national economy, while also emphasising the urgent need for port modernisation to improve efficiency, reliability and competitiveness.

The ongoing deadlock at Chattogram Port has largely been triggered by a work stoppage led by a protest committee opposing the decision to lease port operations to DP World.

Chattogram Port accounts for more than 90 percent of Bangladesh’s international trade and is the principal gateway for export-oriented industries. Under normal circumstances, the port handles between 2,000 and 2,500 export containers daily.