Export containers have piled up at Chattogram’s 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, as exporters advanced their shipments before factory closures.
Container volumes rose to 14,573 TEUs as of 8:00 am on March 17 from a normal level of about 8,000 TEUs, an increase of 6,573 TEUs or 82.16 per cent.
Export goods, mainly ready-made garments, are routed through the depots for stuffing before shipment, and early dispatch to avoid holiday disruption has led to the build-up.
Depot operators said the surge is straining handling capacity, storage space and manpower, slowing operations at a time when throughput typically needs to accelerate.
Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder said depots are under higher-than-usual pressure, though the situation may ease within a few days.
Data from BICDA show the depots are also holding 9,011 TEUs of import containers and 61,915 TEUs of empty containers, adding to congestion.
Ports, customs stay open through Eid holidays
Like every year, Chattogram Port, Chattogram Custom House and the ICDs continue operations through the seven-day Eid holidays under special arrangements.
Port operations will remain suspended for about eight hours on Eid day, while import and export activities at the port and customs are continuing from March 17 to March 23 with duty rosters and manpower in place.
Authorities keep port and customs services open during Eid to avoid a complete halt in cargo clearance, but the absence of parallel operations across factories and logistics services is slowing the movement of goods beyond the port.
Chattogram Custom House is maintaining clearance operations in line with National Board of Revenue (NBR) directives, with duties rescheduled to keep all units functional.
Chattogram Custom House Assistant Commissioner and spokesperson Sharif Mohammad Al Amin said import and export clearances are continuing across all branches, including the airport, airfreight unit and jetties. “Customs operations are ongoing in accordance with the decision of the National Board of Revenue,” he said.
The traffic division of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has issued procedures allowing ships and lighter vessels to operate during Eid, subject to additional charges under existing rules.
Port users have been asked to notify authorities in advance for handling essential commodities, while manpower has been ensured at all facilities, including Kamalapur ICD and Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Dhaka.
Banks operating in port areas, including Janata Bank, One Bank and Sonali Bank, along with customs units and depots, have been instructed to remain open with adequate staffing.
Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Secretary and spokesperson Syed Refayet Hamim said the port will remain operational throughout the holidays, except for the brief Eid-day suspension, following coordination with stakeholders.
Port data show activity increased ahead of the holiday, with 4,951 TEUs of import cargo delivered in the 24 hours to 8:00 am on March 17, above the usual daily range of 3,500 to 4,000 TEUs, while container stock stood at 38,141 TEUs against a capacity of around 59,000 TEUs.
Cargo movement, however, remains constrained beyond the port. Restrictions on goods-laden vehicles before and after Eid to ease passenger travel are reducing flows to and from the port.
At the same time, banks, shipping agents, freight forwarders and clearing and forwarding agents are closed or operating at limited capacity, delaying documentation and financial transactions required for cargo release.
AMMS Group Managing Director and Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association former Vice Chairman Shafiqul Alam Jewel said keeping the port open alone is not sufficient to sustain trade flows.
“It is not enough for only the port and customs to remain open. Without the support of all stakeholders, cargo cannot be unloaded or delivered efficiently,” he said.
He added that Eid operations involve higher costs, with businesses often paying additional charges, sometimes up to double the regular rates, to handle cargo during the holiday period.
