Bangladesh Situation Update: Gradual Normalization Following Student Protests and Political Unrest

13 Aug Bangladesh Situation Update: Gradual Normalization Following Student Protests and Political Unrest

The overall situation in Bangladesh is gradually normalizing after recent student protests and political unrest. Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, have resumed their duties as of yesterday, signaling a return to order in the country.

Chittagong Port Operations

Port activities at Chittagong have resumed, with vessel discharging and loading operations proceeding as usual. However, the Chittagong Port container yard remains heavily congested, leading to delays in vessel operations. Despite some improvements in road traffic, container congestion at Chittagong Port has not yet fully subsided. Container deliveries from the port are still below normal levels, with only 3,516 TEUs delivered on August 12 and 3,265 TEUs on August 11.

Currently, 43,941 TEUs are stored in the port’s yard, which has a storage capacity of 53,518 TEUs but ideally requires a load of 30,000 to 32,000 TEUs for optimal operations.

Berthing Delays

As of August 12, the Chittagong Port Authority’s berthing report indicates that 19 vessels are currently waiting at the outer anchorage – 13 of which are gearless, and six are geared. Among these, one gearless vessel has been waiting since August 4, another since August 5, and three more since August 6. A geared vessel that arrived on August 7 is also awaiting berthing.

• Geared vessels: 3-4 days delay
• Gearless vessels: 6-8 days delay
• Vessels at outer anchorage: 13 vessels
• Vessels at jetty: 6 gearless vessels

Railway Movements

Railway transportation between Chittagong and ICD Dhaka resumed yesterday (August 12, 2024). Out of 20×40’HC HL containers, 6×40’HC were dispatched this morning, with the remainder expected to be dispatched shortly. Currently, 1,784×20’GP and 350×40’HC import-laden containers are waiting in queue for transport from Chittagong Port to ICD Dhaka.

Vessel Departures

The feeder vessel HR Turag took berth yesterday, and the vessel Sol Promise is scheduled to berth today.

Inventory Status

As of today, the available empty inventory stands at 142×40’HC, while the import full-laden containers total 450×40’HC.

In summary, while the situation in Bangladesh is improving, challenges remain, particularly concerning port congestion and vessel delays. The authorities are working diligently to address these issues and restore full operational capacity.