Container transport from Ctg port grinds to a halt

Container transport between Chattogram port and 19 private inland container depots (ICDs) remained suspended for around 34 hours until yesterday afternoon due to work abstention by drivers and helpers of prime mover-trailers.

They stopped operating the vehicles as the ICD owners have been stalling giving them appointment letters.

The workers were actually demanding a raise in their fixed wages and appointment letters that reflect the higher salaries, said Md Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association.

Two vessels left the port jetties yesterday without taking any of the 100 export-laden containers, which could not be sent to the port from the ICDs due to work abstention.

Port users fear more disruption in timely shipment of export goods if the stalemate prolongs.

However, there was no problem with the import of goods as they are directly delivered from the port sheds.

Drivers and helpers of prime movers stopped operating the vehicles, as the owners of 19 private ICDs had been delaying in issuance of appointment letters, Md Abu Bakkar Siddiqui, general secretary of Chattogram Prime Mover-Trailer Sramik Union, told The Daily Star.

Earlier on January 29, the ICD owners made a deal with the union leaders and promised that they will issue appointment letters to all workers by February 20.

Siddiqui said they sat with the ICD owners on February 23 but no decision was taken as the owners sought more time to meet the workers' demand.

Around 900 such containers carrying heavy vehicles are engaged in transporting import, export and empty containers between the port and the ICDs.

Upon arrival, containers loaded with about 37 types of import goods are directly sent by the prime movers from the port to the 18 ICDs located in Chattogram and its outskirts, from where the goods are delivered to the consignees.

On the other hand, all export goods are at first brought to the ICDs for customs and then loaded onto containers and sent to the port for shipment.

Not a single import, export and empty container could be transported between the port and the 19 ICDs since Wednesday morning, Sikder said.

"The salary enhancement is a different issue. It is not possible at this moment, which is why the ICD owners could not agree with the demand of union leaders."

A total of 8,000 prime movers are engaged in container transport across the country, while the ICDs are operating only 900 such vehicles, he added.

Delivery of imported goods, which are taken out from the containers at the port yards, was normal since trucks and other lorries used to transport such goods were operating as usual, said Md Omar Faruk, secretary of Chattogram Port Authority.