The National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) have announced that port and customs operations will continue under special arrangements during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. Although the government has declared a seven-day break from March 17 to March 23, authorities are prioritizing the momentum of the country’s import and export activities.
To ensure uninterrupted trade, the NBR has directed all custom houses and stations nationwide to remain operational on a limited scale. This decision follows requests from trade bodies, including the BGMEA, to help exporters meet strict shipment deadlines. The instruction has been coordinated with the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, FBCCI, shipping agents, and freight forwarders to ensure supporting services—such as banking—are also available.
The port will remain open throughout the holiday period. All activities will pause for only eight hours on the day of Eid, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, resuming immediately afterward. Sufficient personnel will be deployed under an extra allowance scheme to facilitate 24-hour service.
Despite these arrangements, port officials noted that delivery volume by importers often drops significantly during the holidays. The CPA encourages all traders and importers to take advantage of the special measures to clear their goods and avoid post-holiday congestion.
