Recently, protests and marches have erupted in Bangladesh. It is understood that this protest is due to the demand of Bangladeshi citizens for the abolition of the "quota system" for public officials in Bangladesh and the implementation of merit based recruitment. As of July 22nd local time, the nationwide protests in Bangladesh have been ongoing for over three weeks, with no signs of calming down.
Due to the escalation of protests, the Bangladeshi government has implemented a nationwide curfew starting from the evening of July 19, 2024. The protests and curfews that have lasted for several days have seriously affected the lives of Bangladeshi people. The department store stated that their inventory has been depleted due to supply disruptions caused by restrictive measures.
Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), stated that highways have been closed since last Wednesday evening, making it impossible for any goods to be transported from Dhaka to the port of Chittagong or the capital
Dipu pointed out that it has become very difficult to transport export goods to the port of Chittagong. He believes that if the dispute cannot be resolved quickly, export-oriented industries will face a severe situation.
Nurul Qayyum Khan, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), stated that "imported containers cannot be shipped out of ports either because drivers are unwilling to take risks," adding that "typically, these depots handle around 4000 TEUs of import and export containers and empty containers per day“
Shipping giant Maersk has issued a reminder on its official website regarding transportation disruptions in Bangladesh. Maersk said that the curfew imposed by the government in response to the protests and Internet interruption still exists, so the operation continues to be at a standstill.
This situation leads to the interruption of online systems and platforms for all stakeholders in the supply chain. Due to the impossibility of the customs system, the air cargo transportation has been completely stopped before the Internet system resumed operation.
In addition, the restrictions on movement due to the curfew have also led to a shortage of manpower and resources for all businesses and entities. With the relaxation of the curfew from 14:00 to 17:00 on July 22, Maersk has been working with its partners and authorities to establish procedures to ensure smooth transportation of goods.
At present, the manpower at the port is extremely limited. The online system of the port is still closed, resulting in no new online processing or approval updates. The Import General Manifest (IGM) is manually submitted to the Port Authority by Maersk's team. However, due to the low staffing level, approval or rejection is sporadic.
Due to strict curfews in various regions, the availability of trucks and manpower means that container freight stations (CFS) cannot operate at full capacity. However, considering available resources and safety conditions, Maersk's team will continue to monitor the situation and regularly monitor the unloading status of CFS
Recently, Maersk has just opened a new route SH3 connecting China and Bangladesh to meet the growing trade demand, especially in the retail industry.
The SH3 round departs from Shanghai Port in China, stopping at Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Nansha, and Tanjung Pelepas, passing through Chittagong, Bangladesh. On the return journey to Shanghai Port, SH3 will stop at Tanjung Pelepas, which is connected to long-distance routes to Europe. SH3 has been in service since July 7, 2024.
Source: SouHang Network
