Client Advisory: Bangladesh Civil Unrest – July 25 Update

WHAT’S THE LATEST

Last Friday (7/19), a nationwide curfew was imposed in Bangladesh following student protests over government job quotas, with all public gatherings banned by police in the capital of Dhaka.

As of Wednesday (7/24), the curfew has been lifted daily from 10am to 5pm. All factories in the garment manufacturing hubs reopened after a four-day pause in production, and offices resumed operations between 11am and 3pm.

Please be assured that our utmost priority is to ensure the safety and security of our colleagues, clients, and their families in Bangladesh. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as soon as we have more information.

WHAT WE KNOW

• Communication in the Region
  • Internet connection is available only in offices between 11am and 3pm.
  • Social media and messaging services are currently blocked throughout the country.
• Transportation Activity
  • SEKO shipments have been impacted by the recent unrest.
    • Ocean freight shipments are expected to resume on 7/27.
  • There is a backlog of around 33 tons of air freight cargo in the Dhaka warehouse.
    • SEKO is currently unable to place bookings with airlines due to the internet crisis. We currently have 20 tons of air freight scheduled.
  • Feeder vessels are delayed almost 8 days with volumes of 50 TEUs.
  • The Chittagong Port has reopened and is operating as normal, now addressing the buildup of congestion and vessels that were waiting outside the port.
  • There is heavy traffic on the roads as some areas are blocked with no vehicles allowed to enter.
  • Delays with customs documentation and customs officials are also causing delays.
• SEKO Bangladesh
  • The SEKO Bangladesh team and their families are all safe and well!
  • The SEKO Bangladesh office is open as of 7/24, closing early at 3pm so that staff members can safely reach home before curfew at 5pm.
  • Communication with the SEKO Bangladesh team is still restricted, with messaging services still down and internet only available to use in offices while curfew is lifted.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The situation remains volatile and uncertain. SEKO’s utmost priority is to help ensure the safety and security of our colleagues, clients, and their families in the region.

As your logistics partner, we are ready and able to pivot quickly. We will frequently communicate and advise on the situation as more details become available.

Our team is committed to helping our clients continue operating as the conflict unfolds.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.