Operational Update – Nationwide Curfew and Major Internet Outage in Bangladesh

The curfew imposed by the government in response to the protests and internet outage is still in place and as a result, operations continue to remain at a standstill.

This situation is challenging as it has resulted in the outage of online systems and platforms for all stakeholders across the supply chain. As customs systems are not operational, air cargo movements have been completely halted until the internet systems are back up and running.

Additionally, restrictions on movements due to the curfew has also resulted in a shortage of manpower and resources for all businesses and entities.

Despite these challenges, our teams are working hard to ensure that your cargo continues to move. With the relaxation of the curfew between 14:00 hrs – 17:00 hrs on 22nd July, we have been working with our partners and authorities to put processes in place to ensure a seamless journey for your cargo.

The port is operating with extremely limited manpower. The port’s online systems are still down resulting in no new online processing or updates on approvals. Import General Manifests (IGMs) are being filed manually by our teams with the Port authorities. However, due to the low staffing levels, the provision or denial of approvals is sporadic.

Due to the strictness of the curfew at various locations, the resulting availability of trucks and manpower means that the Container Freight Stations (CFS) are not operating at full capacity. However, taking into account available resources and safety and security conditions, our teams continue to monitor the situation and oversee offloading at CFS periodically.

Ensuring the smooth movement of your cargo and the safety of our employees are of the utmost priority for us. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide you with as much information as we can.

As your trusted integrated logistics partner, we understand that the impact this situation is having on your supply chain. Please be assured that we are continuously striving to ensure that your cargo can be moved as seamlessly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this challenging time. Our teams will be in contact with you as soon as possible and are always available to support you.

At Maersk, we are committed to providing you with the best services as well as any relevant information you need to make important decisions about your supply chain. Thus, we’d like to share with you the latest update on the operational impact of the ongoing quota reform protest in Bangladesh.

Due to the escalation of the protest, the government of Bangladesh has imposed a nationwide curfew starting the evening of 19th July 2024. All our employees are currently safe and accounted for. However, this curfew also means that all operations are currently at a standstill.

Furthermone, there is also a nationwide internet outage as a result of the situation which limits our ability to communicate further developments through any online platforms. While mobile phone lines are currently active, the connection is extremely poor and static.

Our teams are striving hard to gathering as much information as possible and preparing contingency plans to ensure that your supply chain continues to move forward. We aim to provide you more information on developments on this situation once the curfew is lifted; per the current news from the government, the tentative date of lifting of the curfew is expected to be this Sunday,i.e., 21st July 2024.

We understand that this situation is not ideal and as your trusted integrated logistics partners, we will continue to endeavour towards minimising it’s impact on your supply chains as best as we can. Our teams will be in contact with you as soon as possible and are always available to support you.

We request your understanding and patience during this challenging time. Thank you for your continued support through our partnership.