Dhaka, Aug. 4 -- The recent customs-related work stoppages at Chittagong Port have once again exposed the fragility of Bangladesh's most critical trade gateway.
As the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) formally requests loss estimates from shipping agents, it is evident that the impact of the shutdowns in June has been far more than a temporary inconvenience - it has created serious logistical and financial consequences for the nation's trade ecosystem.
According to a report published in this newspaper on Sunday, customs officials' complete shutdown on 28 and 29 June, along with a series of pen-down strikes totalling 59 hours between 14 May and 26 June, brought operations at the port to a near standstill.
These actions resulted in severe d...