The unprecedented stalemate that prevailed over the export-import business for the past five days due to the lack of internet connectivity, curfew, and public holidays, began improving on Wednesday.

Assessment and other tasks for import-export activities at Chattogram Customs House, and the loading and offloading of containers at Chattogram Port, gained momentum once the broadband service was restored on a limited scale.

Chattogram Customs House Joint Commissioner Md Tarek Hasain said they started activities under special arrangements using LAN connectivity from Tuesday.

After restoring the broadband service, they resumed the submission of bills of entry and bills of export through the Asycuda World System, he said.

A total of 993 bills of entry were submitted by the C&F agents on Tuesday, while taxation of 3,823 bills of entry was conducted on the same day.

Customs officials told the Daily Sun that they typically receive and conduct around 5,000 bills of entry daily during normal times, and they expect normalcy to return soon.

“The work is now in full swing, and the stalemate will be overcome gradually,” the joint commissioner said while talking to the Daily Sun at his office on Wednesday afternoon.

He also mentioned that to facilitate export-import trade, they provided four computers for the C&F agents and two for freight forwarders at their office.     

Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association President AKM Akhtar Hossain said the crisis was gradually easing, and they were receiving the expected services.

However, he noted that there was an internal problem on the port side regarding the connectivity issue. The port authority, however, denied any disruption.

The delivery of containers from Chattogram Port, as well as the loading and unloading at the jetties, accelerated after the restoration of internet connectivity. Numerous trucks, covered vans, prime movers, and flatbed long vehicles were seen waiting in and around the port areas. Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Omar Faruq said they started receiving internet connectivity on a limited scale from Tuesday evening.

“We now have access to the Asycuda World system of the customs for clearing the delivery of goods from the port yards,” he said, noting that the delivery of goods had picked up, overcoming the stalemate.

The secretary, however, mentioned that they were yet to establish smooth communication with their foreign counterparts, although it was not hampering operations at the port.

Terminal Operator Saif Powertec Executive Director (ED) Nazmul Hoque said they were receiving full online support from the customs and the port on Wednesday.

“We are currently working on six vessels at the jetties. We couldn’t start work on two of them earlier due to the lack of internet connectivity,” said the ED.

“They managed to deliver around 1,500 TEUs containers on Wednesday, and the situation is gradually returning to normal,” he added.

Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Director Khairul Alam Suzan said they had started communicating with their foreign counterparts after the partial restoration of internet connectivity. “Though not everyone has internet connectivity, we are managing the situation with the help of others,” Suzan added.