, June 29 -- Operations at the Customs House in Chattogram remained suspended for a second straight day on Sunday, as officials and staff of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) continued their 'complete shutdown' programme, bringing activities at the country's premier seaport to a standstill.

The shutdown programme severely disrupted operations at the Chittagong Port, the country's key trade gateway, causing serious difficulties for traders and exporters.

Sources said some 38,000 containers remained stranded at the port over the past two days till Sunday afternoon, said Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port.

Authorities fear that if the deadlock is not resolved by Sunday, cargo delivery from the port may come to a complete halt.

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