Normal operations have resumed at Chattogram Port after the authorities suspended the increased gate pass fees for vehicles and C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) employees.
Following the suspension of the revised vehicle tariff on Sunday afternoon, the decision to halt the increased entry fees for C&F employees was made later that evening. As a result, the scheduled work stoppage from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday (October 20) was withdrawn, restoring full port activity from the morning.
Port Secretary Md. Omar Faruk said the decision came after meetings between port authorities and transport owners and workers’ associations. Although the revised tariff was issued under government approval and could not be revoked unilaterally, the port administration decided to suspend the increased fees temporarily considering the situation.
Operations at the country’s main seaport had come to a halt since Saturday after truck, covered van, and trailer owners stopped transporting containers in protest of the increased entry fees—from Tk 57 to Tk 230 for heavy vehicles and Tk 10 to Tk 115 (including VAT) for C&F employees.
After the suspension of the new fees, both transport workers and C&F employees withdrew their protest programs on Sunday evening, leading to the full normalization of import and export operations.
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