The transport strike at Chattogram Port has been called off following the suspension of a fourfold increase in vehicle entry fees. Goods transport operations, which had come to a complete halt for nearly two days, resumed on Sunday afternoon.
The decision came during a meeting held at the port building on Sunday noon, between the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, and representatives of transport owners and workers.
After discussions, the previous entry fee of Tk 57.50 was reinstated, leading the transport owners and workers to withdraw their strike. Around 3pm, both the CPA and transport leaders officially announced the withdrawal of the protest programme.
CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk said, “The increased vehicle entry fee has been suspended temporarily. Since the new tariff has already been gazetted, the final decision will be made by the government. Until then, the previous entry fee of Tk 57.50 will remain in effect.”
Faruk also noted that since Saturday, cargo transport at the port has been completely shut down, leaving around 6,000 vehicles stranded outside the gates. “Following the decision at Sunday’s meeting, goods transport operations are resuming gradually,” he confirmed.
Secretary Shamsuzzaman Sumon of Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association Port Affairs said, “We have decided to resume operations after the port authority agreed to maintain the previous entry fee.”
Chattogram District Truck and Covered Van Workers’ Union President Md. Shafi stated, “We want a permanent solution to this issue. Based on the port authority’s assurance, we are now resuming goods transport using the old rate.”
Due to the suspension of operations since Saturday, container deliveries of imported goods had dropped to nearly zero, and export shipments were severely disrupted. According to the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), around 2,000 export containers remained stuck at depots, unable to be loaded onto vessels.
The Chattogram Port Authority introduced the new tariff structure on 15 October, increasing the vehicle entry fee from Tk 57.50 to Tk 230.
This prompted transport owners to protest, arguing that the new rate was imposed without clarifying who would bear the additional cost – the importers, exporters, or depot operators.
