Tk80b Goods Stranded in Chattogram Port Gridlock

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham) has again voiced serious concern over the ongoing disruption at Chattogram Port, warning of rising economic losses, threats to export operations, and declining global confidence in Bangladesh’s supply chain.

A recent work stoppage has left port operations nearly at a standstill, creating major uncertainty in the movement of goods and containers.

EuroCham estimates that around 13,000 containers, carrying goods worth roughly $660 million (about Tk80 billion), are currently stuck at the port. As a result, export schedules are being derailed, timely deliveries have become difficult, and logistics costs are climbing sharply.

The chamber has urged authorities to restore normal operations without delay. It called for a swift resolution to the dispute in the national economic interest, while also highlighting the need for port modernisation to improve efficiency, reliability and competitiveness.

The standoff stems largely from a work stoppage by a protest group opposing the decision to lease port operations to DP World.

Chattogram Port handles more than 90 percent of Bangladesh’s international trade and serves as the main gateway for export-oriented industries. Under normal circumstances, the port processes between 2,000 and 2,500 export containers each day.