Operations at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port, handling 90% of the nation’s trade were suspended indefinitely Sunday after customs officials launched a strike over government restructuring plans. The work stoppage froze all container movements at Asia’s 10th busiest port, where daily throughput averages 7,000–8,000 boxes. Port Authority Secretary Mohammed Omar Faruq warned the shutdown is “severely impacting the economy,” with garment exports accounting for 80% of Bangladesh’s $55 billion annual overseas sales now stranded.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) declared the paralysis could cost $222 million per day in lost exports and penalties. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated, “Recovery costs will be staggering. Many factories risk bankruptcy.” With textiles comprising 11% of GDP, prolonged disruption threatens supply chains for major Western retailers like H&M and Zara. Industry analysts note order cancellations could escalate if the strike extends beyond 72 hours.
Customs officers under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) are protesting plans to split the agency into separate customs and tax wings. A reform interim leader Muhammad Yunus claims will curb corruption. Strikers argue the move would dilute their authority and benefits. After weeks of intermittent walkouts, tensions peaked Sunday when police barred NBR staff from offices under a government order banning on-premises protests. Yunus’s office urged workers to abandon “unlawful programmes against national interests,” threatening “firm action.”
Thirteen major business chambers held emergency talks Saturday, pleading for resolution. Leaders warned that $2.8 billion in monthly exports face jeopardy, compounded by shipping delays and air freight’s 300% cost premium. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce noted similar strikes in 2023 caused $1.6 billion in losses, urging the government to negotiate before “irreversible damage” occurs. With no talks scheduled, economists project GDP growth could drop from 6.1% to 4.9% if the crisis persists.