Container congestion at Chattogram port due to pen-down strike

A recent pen-down strike by customs officials across Bangladesh has severely disrupted operations at the country’s largest seaport, Chattogram, resulting in a massive build-up of containers both at the port and off-dock facilities.

For several days, officials at all customs houses, including Chattogram Customs House, observed a pen-down programme, beginning their duties only after 3 PM. Though the strike was officially suspended on Monday (May 19), its impact continues to strain port operations.

As of now, over 44,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers remain stuck inside the Chattogram Port. Additionally, 19 off-docks are reportedly holding around 86,000 TEUs, exacerbating the logistical bottleneck, according to local media.

According to port sources, the internal yard of the port has seen an increase of more than 8,000 containers in just 19 days—an alarming rise directly linked to the slowed customs clearance during the strike.

Industry stakeholders warn that prolonged delays in container movement could disrupt supply chains, increase operational costs for businesses, and ultimately affect the country’s trade competitiveness.

Authorities are now racing to clear the backlog and restore normal operations, though the effects of the disruption may take days to fully resolve.