A large volume of goods remained stranded at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port on Friday due to a strike by lighter vessel workers following the murder of seven crew members aboard a ship in Chandpur.Â
According to the port sources, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of goods are stuck at 45 terminals and the outer anchorage of the Chattogram port.
The stranded commodities include wheat, lentils, peas, soya bean seeds, fertilisers, coal, and cement raw materials such as clinker.Â
Workers of lighter vessels, involved in transporting goods via river routes, enforced the strike at midnight on Thursday.
Importers and stakeholders, meanwhile, have expressed concerns that the disruption could drive up the prices of the stranded goods.
On Friday, it was seen that there were no workers inside jetties in Sadarghat and Majhirghat areas in the port city.
The sources said that over 10,000 lighters and more than 10,0,000 workers were involved in this sector across the country.Â
A worker named Monowar Hossen said, ‘Our association instructed us to halt operations yesterday. We have complied and are waiting for further directives. Once we receive the order to resume work, we will do so.’Â
The Bangladesh Water Transport Cell, which oversees lighterage operations at Chattogram port, said that around 1 million tonnes of goods were stranded on 738 vessels at various terminals across the country.
The highest number of vessels is stuck at Nawapara Terminal in Jashore, Kanchpur Terminal in Narayanganj, Meghna Terminal, and Ghorashal Terminal in Sirajganj, it added.
Additionally, about 500,000 tonnes of goods loaded from large ships at the port’s outer anchorage are stuck aboard 35 lighter vessels. Another 450,000 tonnes of goods remain onboard 20 large ships awaiting unloading at the anchorage.Â
Syed Md Arif, president of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association and Managing Director of ABC Shipping, said, ‘Delays caused by natural disasters are unavoidable. Man-made disruptions result in importers bearing additional costs, which may drive up the prices of imported goods—particularly food products. Both sides must act responsibly to resolve this issue.’Â
Md Anwar Hossain Sujan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Foodstuff Importers and Suppliers Association, said, ‘Extended delays in unloading goods result in fines and additional costs for importers. If the strike persists, traders and consumers alike will face losses due to rising prices.’Â
Md Shah Alam, president of the Bangladesh Maritime Workers Federation, said, ‘We have called the strike to press for our demands.’Â
Asked about government intervention, Shah Alam said, ‘We are not willing to continue the strike if our demands are addressed.’Â
Regarding concerns over price hikes, Shah Alam said, ‘Our strike is aimed at securing our rights, not disrupting the economy.’
On Thursday, the Bangladesh Maritime Workers Federation announced an indefinite strike in a joint statement signed by president Shah Alam and general secretary Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam.
The strike, effective from midnight on December 26, seeks justice for the murder of seven crew members of the MV Al-Bakhera in the Majerchar area of Haimchar in Chandpur.