চট্টগ্রাম বন্দরের অচলাবস্থা, আন্দোলনকারীদের কাছে উদ্বেগ জানালেন ব্যবসায়ীরা
· Prothom Alo
Chittagong Port, Bangladesh’s largest commercial gateway, has been in a state of paralysis for several weeks following a series of protests by dockworkers and allied labor unions demanding better wages, safer working conditions and clearer contractual arrangements. The stoppage has halted the flow of imports and exports, leaving thousands of cargo ships stranded and causing a backlog that is now stretching into the port’s hinterland. Business owners, many of whom rely on the port for their daily operations, have taken to the streets to voice their concerns to the demonstrators, warning that the continued shutdown will impose additional costs on them in the form of storage fees, demurrage charges and higher freight rates. These expenses, they argue, will ultimately be transferred to consumers, driving up the price of goods across the country.
Industry associations have called for an urgent, negotiated settlement that balances the legitimate demands of the workers with the economic realities of the nation’s trade network. According to the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, the port’s closure has already cost the country an estimated 1.2 billion taka in lost revenue and has disrupted supply chains for key sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. While the government has pledged to mediate, the protesters have insisted on a comprehensive review of labor contracts and a transparent wage‑setting mechanism. In the meantime, port authorities are exploring temporary measures such as expedited clearance for critical cargo and the use of alternative berths to mitigate the impact on shipping schedules. The situation remains fluid, with stakeholders on both sides recognizing that a swift, mutually acceptable resolution is essential to prevent further economic fallout and protect the livelihoods of millions of Bangladeshi consumers.
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