The impact of the 'complete shutdown' program of customs officials and employees has begun to be felt at Chittagong Port. Since the program began at 6 am today, Saturday, there have been disruptions in the unloading of goods at the port. Trucks carrying goods are standing on the road entering Chittagong Port. A traffic jam has also formed inside the port's jetty waiting to load goods.

Customs clearance of import and export goods has also been suspended from 6 am today. However, loading and unloading of containers from previously registered ships at the port is still ongoing. New unregistered ships arriving at the jetty will fall under the shutdown program. Then the port's operations will also be affected to a large extent.

Saiful Islam, president of the C&F Agents Association, said, "All activities through Chittagong Port, from import-export customs clearance to clearance, are carried out with the approval of customs. None of these activities are carried out without the approval of customs. As a result, if customs activities are stopped, it also affects the port's activities."

Nasir Uddin, the port's chief personnel officer, said, "The loading and unloading of goods from ships at the port jetty is still normal. However, there is some impact at those points of the unloading process where customs is involved."

Shipping Agents Association Director Khairul Alam Sujan said, due to previous approval, container loading and unloading work is going on at the jetty. However, containers cannot be loaded and unloaded on ships that are not registered now. If export duty is not imposed, it will also have an impact there. The government needs to resolve the issue of this program quickly. Otherwise, it will create a terrible crisis in import and export.

A continuous shutdown program began today at customs offices across the country demanding reforms in the revenue sector and the removal of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman. The most affected has been the Chittagong port, because 92 percent of import and export goods are brought in and out through this port.