BD and UAE Initiate Talks for Bilateral Aviation Deal

An automobile dealer has been waiting nearly a month for a container of reconditioned parts to reach Dhaka's Inland Container Depot (ICD) from the Chattogram port. The parts, imported from the UAE, arrived on August 17 but were caught in a massive container backlog due to a 27-day suspension of railway services during the student mov

Bangladesh’s ship-breaking industry, which has led the global market for nine years, is facing challenges in complying with international environmental standards following the 2023 ratification of the Hong Kong Convention. The industry must meet these standards by June 2025, but a shortage of skilled workers, technical experts, and financial resources is hindering the transition. Despite efforts, only four ship-breaking yards have received green certifications in the past seven years, and even certified yards struggle with safety and expertise issues.

A Liberian-flagged vessel, MV Mana, carrying 50,071 tonnes of soybeans from Brazil, has been stranded at Chattogram Port since June 8 due to a dispute over the soybean quality. The ship, owned by Active Maritime Ltd, has unloaded 30,000 tonnes for Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries and Super Oil Refinery Ltd but has been unable to offload the remaining 20,070 tonnes due to water damage compromising the cargo's quality. The importer, Delta Agro Food Industries, and the declaring agent halted further unloading, citing issues with the damaged soybeans.

Operations have begun at Nagarbari Port on the Jamuna River in Pabna’s Bera upazila, enhancing the transport of goods from Chattogram seaport to northern, northwestern, and southern districts. The port's new 300-meter RCC jetty is already operational, handling fertiliser, coal, clinker, stones, cement, and food grains. With nearly 80% of the infrastructure complete, including jetty, sheds, and warehouse, the port is set to play a crucial role in the fertiliser supply for northern

Container congestion at Chattogram Port continues despite slight improvements, with high container volumes still causing delays. Political upheavals and severe flooding have exacerbated the issue, leading to significant backlogs in both import and export containers.

The backlog at Chattogram port, exacerbated by the recent anti-discrimination student movement, is showing signs of improvement. Waiting times for vessels at the outer anchorage, which peaked at nine days in early August, have decreased to around five days. The number of vessels at the outer anchorage dropped from over 18 in early August to nine by September 1. Container congestion, which extended unloading times, has been a major issue.