A drivers' trade-union election Saturday halted Bangladesh's premier port haulage for eight hours, affecting the country's external-trade operations, sources said.
Container movement in Chattogram remained suspended for eight hours from 8:00 in the morning as the drivers were busy with their election held on the day in the port city.
This impacted cargo movement, especially the export cargoes, significantly. It also affected the cargo movements to and from rod- manufacturing companies.
Some senior shipping executives say that such stoppage of cargo movement hits supply chain of essential goods and industrial raw materials at a time when the economy is opening up from coronavirus disruptions.
The trailers mainly carry cargoes between depots and Chittagong Port. They also transport cargos to and from export-processing zones.
The triennial election of Chattogram Prime Mover Trailer Shramik Union, a group of 7,030 drivers, was held on the day. This is a national organisation, based in Chattogram.The voting was conducted at Chattogram Republic Club.
The association had earlier requested the 19 contaioner depots, 12 berth operators and others for suspending their services on Saturday for eight hours. It was signed by Md. Solaiman Kiron, chairman of the election commission.
A senior official at one of the biggest depots told the FE over phone that there was huge productivity loss due to the stoppage of the services.
"More than 20 containers move to and from each depot each hour. So it has overall impact on productivity".
A shipping executive told the FE that no trailer had entered or left the port area during the election hours. This was "funnyc" that an election of the drivers halted the port activity.
"Everybody has democratic right. But it cannot impact or stop port activities," he said, wishing anonymity.
On the other hand, Md Mainuddin, the incumbent president of the association, said that the movement of the trailers was usual. But later he said that the presence of the trailers was 'thin' in the port city.
"Actually the movement of the trailers was thin," Mr Mainuddin told the FE over the phone on Saturday afternoon.
"The shipment of outgoing containers was impacted," Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), told the FE.
He said other works inside the port area went on as usual.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com