Container delivery at Chattogram port drops 73%

Even though the Chattogram port was hundred percent operational during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays, the delivery of cargo containers from the port decreased by about 73 percent in this period, resulting in an accumulation of containers in the yard.

This figure was obtained by analysing the port's data on container handling and delivery in the seven days from July 29 to August 4. During this time, 5,144 extra containers accumulated in the port yard.

The Chattogram Port Authority said the port's operational activities were kept on during the Eid holidays except for eight hours on Eid day.

However, container delivery declined as other port-related establishments were not fully functional. At that time, nonetheless, container handling was almost normal except on Eid day, they claimed.

According to the Port Performance data, on July 29, the Chattogram port handled 7,323 TEUs (Twenty-Feet Equivalent Units) containers, including the unloading of imported cargo containers and the shipping of exported goods and empty containers.

On the same day, 4,016 containers were delivered from the port. Till 8am on July 29, there were 31,580 containers in the port yard having a capacity of 49,018 containers. During normal hours, the Chattogram port handles an average of about 8,000 containers per day.

Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Authority also issued a letter requesting all concerned including banks, customs houses, off dock, and shipping and C&F agents to keep the import and export activities of the port on.

Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk said the port was kept hundred percent operational except for eight hours on Eid day to ensure that import and export activities did not get interrupted.

He added that a letter had been issued to the stakeholders to keep the container delivery normal.

Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, said almost all prime mover drivers went to their village homes during the Eid holidays, and took a whole week to come back to work.

Moreover, exporters did not send goods to the depots as there was no movement of goods transportation vehicles on Eid. As a result, the quantity of goods delivered from or sent export goods to the port reduced, he also said.

Meanwhile, after July 29, the number of containers in the port yard increased alongside a drop in the container delivery.

According to the data, the port delivered 3,877 containers on July 30, 2,624 on July 31 and 302 on August 1. No container was delivered on August 2. Besides, 605 containers were delivered on August 3 and 1,069 containers on August 4. The port usually delivers 4,500-5,000 containers every day.