Goods transportation from Chattogram port has become costlier as charges have almost doubled for inadequate carriers and drivers amid coronavirus lockdown.
Sources said drivers and labourers who went back to villages since announcement of the lockdown could not reach the workstation, although the government has allowed transportation of consumables.
Both small and big traders and importers are facing transportation crisis, they added.
Big importers somehow manage such high cost of transport, but small traders face the ordeal for a lack of courier services and small goods carrying vehicles.
Transport owners demand higher charges as their vehicles have to move one way with imported goods. They can only go to Dhaka from the country's prime port.
"As export activity is almost suspended, most vehicles go back to Chattogram without goods. Besides, drivers who manage to come demand high charges for transportation," said Kala Chand Pal.
The proprietor of Good Luck Transport and Trading Corporation has been running only six out of his 30 vehicles as lockdown allows food and drug haulage only.
After allowing transportation of commercial goods since April 20, Mr Pal's transport service has managed 10 to 12 vehicles for shipping.
He said 12 tonnes of containers are charged Tk 24,000 and above, but Moulvibazar Businessmen's Community said the cost, which was Tk 10,000 against 16-tonne vehicles, is Tk 30,000.
Mohammad Golam Mowla, general secretary of the association, blamed a lack of coordination and proper direction for such anarchy in goods transportation.
"We can manage goods carriage from Chattogram port to Dhaka now, but transportation of imported goods to other parts of the country can't be possible under current arrangements."
Mr Mowla, also the president of Moulvibazar Wholesale Oil Businessmen Association, particularly cited the problem small traders have been facing.
They cannot transport cartoon items for a lack of small vehicles and courier services to send goods to their destinations, he continued.
However, exporter Shahedul Islam Helal said many exporters are in a dilemma with raw materials which are allowed to transport from the port.
Importers cannot unload goods at their respective factories for a lack of labourers and space in godowns for failing to export the stored goods, he added.
"We're bound to take delivery of the pricey raw materials from the port. With labour crisis and increased transport costs, we're bringing those to factories," Mr Helal told the FE.
Syed Abu Zafar of FN Trading Corporation said they have to pay Tk 6,000 to labourers per container. Earlier, it was Tk 3,000 only.
"There is no doubt that transport and labour costs are higher now, but we face problems in transportation for a lack of coordination," he told the FE over phone.
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