Chittagong Port Grapples with Congestion Amidst Intermittent Strikes and Election Closure

09 Fév Chittagong Port Grapples with Congestion Amidst Intermittent Strikes and Election Closure

Chittagong, Bangladesh – February 9th, 2026 – Chittagong Port, a critical gateway for Bangladesh’s trade, is currently navigating a complex period marked by intermittent worker strikes, subsequent berthing congestion, and an upcoming national election-related closure.

Strike Postponed, Operations Resume with Caution Protesting workers have temporarily postponed their planned strike until February 15th, allowing port operations to resume from 08:00 hours on February 9th. However, the situation remains precarious; if the workers’ demands are not met by the deadline, a fresh strike will commence from February 16th.

Impact of Recent Disruptions: The port has experienced significant operational setbacks due to recent labor actions:

• February 8th Strike: Cargo operations at GCB (General Cargo Berth) were entirely suspended for 24 hours. CCT (Chittagong Container Terminal) and NCT (New Mooring Container Terminal) managed very limited operations, while PCT (Patenga Container Terminal) surprisingly maintained smooth cargo handling. Despite the strike, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) successfully executed yesterday’s vessel movements, with 5 departures and 5 alongside berths.
• Prior Stoppages: Before yesterday’s strike, cargo operations faced a 56-hour suspension from 08:00 hours on February 3rd to 16:00 hours on February 5th. This followed a 24-hour work abstention at CGP (Chittagong Port) between January 31st and February 2nd, with daily stoppages from 08:00 to 16:00 hours. In total, the port suffered 80 hours of disruption last week.
• Broader Impact: During these strike periods, cargo movement between the port and depots was halted, and administrative activities of the port authority also faced standstill.

Current Congestion Levels: These cumulative disruptions have led to noticeable berthing congestion:

• Gearless Vessels: Experiencing 4-5 days berthing delay.
• Geared Vessels: Facing 2-3 days berthing delay.

Upcoming National Election Closure: Adding to the logistical challenges, the National Election of Bangladesh is scheduled for February 12th. Port operations are anticipated to remain suspended on this day. An official announcement from the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) regarding the exact operational status for February 12th is expected soon and will be updated accordingly.

Stakeholders are advised to monitor official announcements closely and plan their logistics with flexibility to mitigate the impact of these ongoing and impending disruptions at Chittagong Port.