Bangladesh’s economy is facing a serious threat as operations at Chattogram Port remain paralysed due to a prolonged work stoppage and the complete suspension of vessel movements, leaders of 10 major business organisations warned on Thursday.
In an urgent joint statement issued after an emergency meeting at the BTMA office in Gulshan, the business leaders called for immediate high-level government intervention to end the deadlock and restore normal operations at the country’s principal seaport.
Describing the situation as unprecedented, the leaders said this was the first time in the port’s history that vessel movements had been entirely halted. They noted that Chattogram Port, the backbone of the national economy, suffers direct losses of several thousand crore taka for every day it remains shut.
The shutdown has brought import and export activities across all sectors, including the ready-made garment industry, to a standstill, the statement said. Raw materials are failing to reach factories on time, while export-ready goods are stranded at the port awaiting shipment.
As a result, exporters are struggling to meet delivery deadlines committed to international buyers. The leaders warned that if the disruption continues for even a few more days, large-scale order cancellations could follow, prompting foreign buyers to shift sourcing away from Bangladesh.
They said the crisis comes at a time when the manufacturing and export sectors are already under intense pressure from weak global demand, rising production costs and geopolitical uncertainty. The port paralysis has worsened the situation by creating severe container congestion.
According to the statement, congestion has led to sharp increases in demurrage charges, port fees and storage costs, directly pushing up production expenses. Higher export prices, they warned, would erode Bangladesh’s competitiveness in global markets and hurt foreign trade in the long term.
The business leaders also cautioned that rising logistics costs would be passed on to consumers through higher prices for imported goods. With Ramadan approaching, delays in clearing essential imports could trigger artificial shortages and price hikes, placing additional pressure on consumers.
They further expressed concern that the disruption is affecting bank loan repayments and letter of credit (LC) settlements. Failure to ship goods on time could prevent businesses from meeting financial obligations, posing risks to the banking sector.
The statement said the prolonged shutdown is damaging Bangladesh’s reputation in international markets and could contribute to price volatility during the upcoming Ramadan and Eid seasons, creating a major challenge for the next government.
The leaders also warned that a continued shutdown would disrupt international shipping schedules, affecting vessels operating on global routes and undermining Bangladesh’s position in regional and global supply chains.
Calling for urgent action, the business leaders urged the government to resolve the crisis in the national interest.
They said issues related to the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease could be reviewed by the next government, but keeping the port closed was unacceptable under any circumstances.
They also appealed to port workers’ unions, acknowledging their right to raise demands but urging them to withdraw from actions that have halted vessel movements. Restoring port operations, they said, would be the most responsible step in the current situation.
The leaders expressed hope that the government and protesting parties would engage in immediate dialogue and reach a sustainable solution, warning that further delay would deepen the economic damage