Deadlock ends at Ctg customs as C&F agents withdraw strike

The Clearing & Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association called off their strike on Wednesday evening after the Chattogram Customs House – which handles customs clearance of import and export goods at the port – promised a speedy solution to their licence renewal issue.

Earlier that day, the work abstention of C&F Agents had brought nearly all customs activities to a standstill. C&F agents usually submit more than 3,500 bills per day for goods imported and exported through the Chattogram port.

Fakhrul Alam, commissioner of customs house, told The Business Post, “A meeting was held with the striking C&F agents in the afternoon, during which we assured them that the deactivated agent licences will be reactivated after they update their documents.

“The National Board of Revenue also agreed to the move, prompting the agents to withdraw their strike and return to work.”

Before that meeting, C&F Agents Association Joint Secretary Mahmud Imam Bilu had said, “The customs house had not renewed the licences of about 250 C&F agents, leaving them unable to work.”

Deputy Secretary of Chattogram Port Mohammad Nasir Uddin claimed that the strike at customs house did not have an immediate effect at the port, as the goods delivered on Wednesday had already been cleared.