Customs workers brought Chattogram Port to a complete stop Saturday. Their protest blocked 3,680 containers from leaving the port. The containers held mostly clothes ready for export to other countries. Port officials said they had never seen such a complete shutdown before. The action hurt business badly at Bangladesh's main shipping center.
Three cargo ships waited at the dock with nowhere to go Sunday morning. The vessels AS Cecilia, Express Nilwala, and Hong Da Jin-68 could not load their planned cargo. Workers had loaded some containers before the protest started. Most shipments stayed stuck at 19 private storage areas around the port. The ships were supposed to carry goods to Singapore first, then on to Europe and America.
The protest started because the government changed how tax collection works. Officials issued new rules on May 12 that broke up the National Board of Revenue. The government created two separate departments to replace the old system. Customs officers across Bangladesh began striking Saturday. They want the government to undo the changes and fire the revenue board chairman.
Import shipments also stopped moving during the protest. No containers left storage areas to reach waiting customers. Ships floating in the harbor could not register their arrival. Workers refused to load or unload any cargo until their demands are met.
Three cargo ships waited at the dock with nowhere to go Sunday morning. The vessels AS Cecilia, Express Nilwala, and Hong Da Jin-68 could not load their planned cargo. Workers had loaded some containers before the protest started. Most shipments stayed stuck at 19 private storage areas around the port. The ships were supposed to carry goods to Singapore first, then on to Europe and America.
The protest started because the government changed how tax collection works. Officials issued new rules on May 12 that broke up the National Board of Revenue. The government created two separate departments to replace the old system. Customs officers across Bangladesh began striking Saturday. They want the government to undo the changes and fire the revenue board chairman.
Import shipments also stopped moving during the protest. No containers left storage areas to reach waiting customers. Ships floating in the harbor could not register their arrival. Workers refused to load or unload any cargo until their demands are met.
