Cargo transport to and from the Chattogram port experienced a slowdown today as a result of the ongoing unrest and enforcement of a countrywide shutdown by quota reform activists.

Transport owners and workers pointed out that many trucks and covered vans bound for Chattogram port were stuck at exit points in Dhaka, including the Shonir Akhra area, and on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, where clashes between protesters and police have been taking place since Wednesday noon.

Vehicular movement in Jatrabari was also halted after a fire broke out at the toll plaza on the Mayor Hanif Flyover.

Businesses faced a shortage of vehicles while fares rose by 30 to 40 percent in Chattogram today as owners and drivers were unwilling to ply their vehicles in fear.

Even though loading, unloading and other operations at the port jetties went on as usual today, cargo delivery from the port yards progressed slowly.

"While cargo and container handling from anchored vessels went on as usual, entry of vehicles for deliveries was slower, considering Thursday is a busy day for the port," said Md Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).

According to different private inland container depots (ICDs), the arrival of trucks and covered vans carrying export cargo from Dhaka and different parts of the country was poor till today afternoon.

An official of KDS Logistics, a leading private ICD at Sonaichhari in Sitakunda upazila, told The Daily Star that only 33 trucks and covered vans had arrived until 2 pm today, while a total of 411 vehicles entered the depot the previous day.

However, transport of export and import containers between the depot and the port was normal, he said.

An operation manager at Nemsan Depot, another nearby ICD, said that import delivery was delayed due to a shortage of vehicles.

The scenario was similar in other depots.

Kazi Mahmud Imam Bilu, general secretary of Chattogram Custom C&F Agents Association, said transport fares were hiked by 30 to 40 percent today due to a shortage of vehicles as many trucks and covered vans from Dhaka failed to reach Chattogram.

He said transport owners charged over Tk 25,000 for a truck or covered van against the usual Tk 16,000 to Tk 17,000 for Chattogram to Dhaka.