August 8, 2024 in CUSTOMER ADVISORY
Customer Advisory: Update on Current Situation in Bangladesh
APL Logistics would like to provide an update on the current situation in Bangladesh and its potential impact on our operations.
Please refer to our Operational Status Matrix here (restricted view) for most recent detailed updates. Due to the ongoing fluidity of the situation in Bangladesh, we encourage all interested parties to bookmark this link to periodically check for the latest updates regarding the status of our operations in the region.
Update #7 : August 8, 2024
Government Update:
• The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has resigned on Monday, August 5, amid a period of civil unrest, and has left the country.
• According to the Army Chief, an interim government is to be formed by Thursday, August 8.
Office Hours:
• All government and non-government offices have reopened as of Tuesday, August 6, operating on regular schedules.
Nationwide Curfew:
• The nationwide curfew has been withdrawn as of 6 AM on Tuesday, August 6.
Internet Connectivity:
• Mobile and broadband internet connectivity have been restored and are running smoothly. Social media apps are now accessible.
Customs System:
• The online customs portal is fully operational, allowing for customs entries.
Cargo Movement:
• Cargo movement on roads has resumed, though availability of trucks remains a challenge due to safety concerns.
Port and Airport Operation:
• The Chittagong port and CFS depot have resumed operations as of Wednesday, August 7. The overall situation is gradually improving.
• Dhaka airport has also reopened and is operating as of Wednesday, August 7.
Factory Status:
• Factories have gradually started reopening and resuming operations as of Wednesday, August 7.
Update #6 : August 6, 2024
Government Update:
• The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has resigned on Monday, August 5, amid a fierce anti-government movement, and has left the country.
• According to the Army Chief, an interim government is to be formed with immediate effect.
Office Hours:
• All offices, including government and non-government, are advised to open from Tuesday, August 6 as per the regular process.
Nationwide Curfew:
• The nationwide curfew remains in effect until 6 AM on Tuesday, August 6.
Internet Connectivity:
• Mobile and broadband internet connectivity have been restored, though users are reportedly experiencing intermittent connectivity. Social media apps are now unblocked.
Customs System:
• Users can do customs entries in an online customs portal with full internet connectivity restoration.
Cargo Movement:
• Cargo movement is impacted due to ongoing demonstrations.
• Cargo rail service also remains suspended.
Port and Deport Operation:
• Operations at the Chittagong port and CFS depot were suspended on Monday, August 5, and are expected to resume gradually from Tuesday, August 6 as the overall situation improves.
• Dhaka airport was shut down for six hours from 6 PM on Monday, August 5.
Factory Closure:
• The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested apparel factory owners to keep their factories closed on Tuesday, August 6, amid the ongoing civil unrest in the country.
Update #5 : August 5, 2024
Office Hours:
• All offices, including government and non-government, are advised to observe a general holiday from Monday, August 5 to Wednesday, August 7 due to the unrest situation.
Nationwide Curfew:
• The government has announced a nationwide curfew from 6 PM, Sunday, August 4 onwards, until the situation improves.
Internet Connectivity:
• Mobile data 4G network has been suspended since Sunday, August 4 afternoon; only wi-fi broadband internet is available.
• There are ongoing restrictions on some social media and messaging apps due to security concerns.
Customs System:
• Due to the unavailability of the mobile data network, users are currently making online customs entries using only the wi-fi broadband network, which may affect regular productivity.
Cargo Movement:
• Cargo movement is affected as the Dhaka-Chittagong route has been blocked due to demonstrations.
• Cargo rail service also remains suspended.
Factory Closure:
• The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has requested apparel owners to keep factories closed until further notice, considering the safety of workers.
As of August 4, operational activities at Ports, Customs and CFS facilities are running on a very limited scale due to the current turmoil situation and curfew restrictions.
Update #4 : July 31, 2024
Office Hours:
• All offices, including government and non-government, are advised to keep regular office timings from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from July 31 onward.
Nationwide Curfew:
• A nationwide curfew remains in effect, which may be extended for some more days with relaxed timing from 7 AM to 8 PM to facilitate regular office hours.
Internet Connectivity:
• Internet connections with broadband and mobile data networks have been restored, but bandwidth is still limited, and the service is not yet fully stable.
• There are ongoing restrictions on some social media apps due to security concerns.
Customs System:
• Customs systems have been restored at all locations. However, the limited internet connectivity is causing slow responses, which is impacting productivity.
Cargo Movement:
• Cargo movement has resumed from July 24 onward, with no more restrictions despite the prevailing curfew.
As of July 31, operational activities have resumed at offices, ports, customs, and CFS facilities, pending the full restoration of stable internet connectivity
Update #3 : July 29, 2024
Office Hours:
• All offices, including government and non-government offices, will operate from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM between Sunday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 30.
Nationwide Curfew:
• A nationwide curfew is currently in place, which may be extended further with relaxed timing from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM to accommodate office hours.
Internet Connectivity:
• Internet connectivity was partially restored on the night of July 23 in select areas to support commercial, banking, and customs operations.
• Full restoration, including mobile data networks, is expected to be achieved nationwide by the afternoon of July 29.
Customs System:
• Customs systems were reinstated at all locations on the night of July 24.
• However, due to limited internet connectivity, users are facing slow response times, adversely affecting productivity.
Cargo Movement:
• Starting from July 24, cargo transportation has recommenced without any restrictions, despite the ongoing curfew.
As of July 28, operational activities at offices, ports, customs, and CFS facilities have progressively resumed, awaiting the complete reinstatement of internet services.
Update #2 : July 24, 2024
Office Hours:
• All offices, including government and non-government offices, will be open on Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Nationwide Curfew:
• A nationwide curfew remains in effect, with relaxed timing to facilitate office work.
• Curfew hours are from 5:00 PM onwards, allowing for operational activities during the hours of 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Internet Connectivity:
• Internet connections were restored on the night of July 23, but in a limited capacity and in selected areas.
• This restoration aims to support commercial, banking, and customs activities, and will gradually increase across the country.
Customs System:
• As of the night of July 23, customs systems have been restored at many locations.
• It is anticipated that all locations will have their customs systems restored by July 24.
Cargo Movement:
• Cargo movement is scheduled to resume from July 24 onwards.
• We anticipate operational activities to gradually resume from July 24 onwards at offices, ports, customs, and CFS facilities, pending full restoration of internet connectivity.
Update #1 : July 22, 2024
As of the latest reports, the situation in Bangladesh remains challenging from a business operations perspective, with no significant improvement. The government has implemented a nationwide curfew and declared July 21 and July 22 as public holidays. Unfortunately, communication disruptions continue to persist, affecting the ability to communicate in and out of the country.
Our regional operations support teams are on standby and ready to provide specific updates based on the latest available information. Despite the ongoing communication challenges, we remain committed to keeping you informed and minimizing any potential impact on your operations.
July 19, 2024
APL Logistics would like to provide an update on the current situation in Bangladesh and its potential impact on our operations.
Over the past few days, Bangladesh has experienced widespread student protests demanding reforms to the government’s job quota system. These protests have sadly escalated into serious violence, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces reported across the country.
The capital city of Dhaka, as well as other major urban centers, are currently facing near-total internet and telecommunications outages. This has significantly disrupted communication in and out of Bangladesh.
All APL Logistics staff and their families are accounted for and safe. However, our container freight station (CFS) operations in Chittagong are running with reduced staffing levels, and we have seen a decline in cargo inflow from Dhaka and other affected areas. Port operations and customs activities are also continuing, but with limited personnel.
We are closely monitoring the evolving situation and are hopeful that normalcy will be restored soon. Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to minimize any disruptions to our services.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your dedicated APL Logistics representative.
About APL Logistics
APL Logistics is a leading global supply chain logistics provider focusing on Order Management. With over four decades of experience, we offer innovative, end-to-end supply chain solutions across various industries. With a strategic balance of our world-class account management teams, proprietary digital solutions, and an extensive network, APL Logistics’ Order Management will enable your business to stand out, adapt faster, and execute more efficiently than your competitors.
The APL Logistics group of companies has a global network covering all major markets and is backed by a multinational workforce. APL Logistics Ltd is a member of the Kintetsu World Express group, a global logistics services provider. For more information, visit www.apllogistics.com, email us at global_marketing@apllogistics.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.