The Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh, entered its third consecutive day of suspended cargo operations on 5 November 2026, as employees of C&F agent associations continued a work stoppage protesting alleged harassment, arbitrariness, and misconduct by customs officials . The strike, which began on Tuesday, 3 November, has brought import-export activities at one of the country's key land border crossings with India to a standstill.
According to port operating company Panama Port Link Limited, approximately 450 trucks are currently stranded inside the port facility, unable to complete loading or unloading operations . Of these, roughly 400 trucks are carrying stone from India, while the remainder hold commodities including coconut, husk, and dried fish. The space crunch has become so severe that even though 10 trucks managed to enter the port on the morning of 5 November, authorities stated that no new trucks from India could be accommodated due to the lack of available space .
The striking workers have levelled specific allegations against customs officials, particularly Customs Superintendent Mizanur Rahman, accusing him of arbitrariness, improper behaviour, and unreasonable obstruction of cargo clearance . Their grievances include the withholding of employee cards without cause, the creation of complications after files are submitted, and the sudden imposition of new rules without prior notice. The protesters have declared that the work stoppage will continue until these practices cease and action is taken against the official concerned .
Customs authorities have rejected the allegations, stating that there is no truth to claims of files being withheld or individuals being harassed outside established rules . Officials said they invited the protesters for discussions, but the striking workers did not respond. An assistant revenue officer at the port stated that he was new to the posting and was unaware of any improper behaviour, adding that the authorities had requested dialogue to understand the reasons for the strike but were refused .
Efforts to resolve the crisis have so far proven unsuccessful. A meeting was held on Wednesday, 4 November, but failed to produce a solution. Ariful Islam Iti, general secretary of the import-export group, confirmed that another meeting was scheduled for Thursday at the group's office, warning that cargo transport operations at the port would face further disruption if no resolution emerged from that session . The C&F Agents Association's general secretary, Moha. Ruhul Amin, stated that the Wednesday afternoon meeting had been intended to reach a resolution through discussion, but the commissioner did not arrive by evening, rendering the talks futile and leaving the work stoppage in place .
The operational impact extends beyond the stranded trucks themselves. Labourers at the port have been left idle due to the lack of work, and the inability to clear cargo has created a backlog that will take time to unwind even after the strike ends. The port authority has warned that if the work stoppage continues, it will be impossible to bring Indian goods-laden trucks into the port facility on Thursday . The strike has effectively frozen the bilateral trade flow through this gateway, affecting importers, exporters, transport operators, and port workers alike.
Sonamasjid land port serves as a critical conduit for trade between Bangladesh and India, particularly for commodities such as stone, agricultural products, and consumer goods. The current disruption highlights the vulnerability of land port operations to labour-management disputes and the cascading effects such stoppages have on cross-border supply chains. With hundreds of trucks immobilised and no clear resolution in sight, stakeholders on both sides of the border are facing mounting costs and delivery delays. The outcome of Thursday's scheduled meeting will determine whether the port can resume operations or whether the strike will extend into a fourth day