The complications surrounding the delivery of imported goods at Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) have been alleviated with the recent shift to the South Container Yard (SCY), according to Chattogram Custom House authorities.
The formal delivery and customs clearance process at SCY began on 25 August 2025, marking a resolution to the previous challenges.
For several days, workers at C&F agent unions protested delays, space shortages, and alleged harassment at PCT, operated by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), the first foreign operator at Chattogram Port.
The situation escalated on Sunday, 24 August, when workers went on strike from morning until 4 pm. The strike was called off after RSGT assured union leaders that steps would be taken to address the issues.
Following the protests, HM Kabir, Deputy Commissioner (Preventive and Administration) of Chattogram Custom House, authorized the temporary shift of import containers from PCT to SCY, located 3.5 kilometers away. Customs officials confirmed that additional manpower had been deployed at SCY starting Monday to ensure smooth clearance operations.
“There was a problem in delivering import containers at PCT. Following approval from NBR, container delivery has now shifted to South Container Yard. With the necessary manpower in place, we expect no further complications,” Deputy Commissioner Kabir told The Daily Times of Bangladesh.
Syed Aref Sarwar, Head of Commercial and Public Affairs at RSGT, confirmed that deliveries would continue at SCY while PCT expands its capacity.
“Four more Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes are expected to arrive by the end of this week, with ten additional RTGs in October. By March next year, four gantry cranes specialized for container handling will be added to improve efficiency,” he said.
C&F Agent Employees Union Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan noted that delivery times at PCT had stretched to four to seven days, leading to significant disruptions.
“We raised these issues in several meetings, but they remained unresolved, which led to the strike. After RSGT requested ten days to resolve the problem, we agreed to withdraw the strike,” he said, adding, “Now, with SCY only 3.5 kilometers from PCT, we will see if the difficulties are further reduced.”
PCT began its commercial operations on 10 June 2024 under a 22-year agreement between Chattogram Port Authority and RSGT. The terminal, with three dedicated container jetties, has an annual handling capacity of 500,000 TEUs.