Following a three-day general holiday, and curfew following the nationwide unrest normalcy returned to the roads of Chittagong city on Wednesday.
All types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, private cars, and autorickshaws, resumed operations.
Inter-district buses also departed for various destinations. All government and private offices, banks, insurance companies, and financial institutions have reopened.
Chittagong District Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman announced that the curfew would be relaxed in Chittagong district on Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 6pm.
Factories resume operations
All factories in the Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) and Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) resumed operations on Wednesday morning as broadband internet service was restored with limited access.
However, factory owners expressed concerns about the long-term negative impact of the recent unrest on the sector.
BGMEA Vice President Rakibul Alam said that factory operations have resumed. He stressed the urgent need to fully activate the import-export software ASYCUDA by restoring internet services promptly.
"Otherwise, we will face significant challenges, as all our communication relies on the internet. A substantial number of raw materials is waiting at the port for release, and export goods are awaiting loading in the depots. These processes need to commence immediately."
Chittagong EPZ General Manager M Abdus Sobhan and Karnaphuli EPZ General Manager Jillur Rahman confirmed that working conditions in the factories are back to normal.
Port operations resumed
Activities has returned to the one-stop service centres at the country's major seaports.
The recent internet shutdown caused a deadlock at these centres, hindering the redemption of products.
The one-stop service centre at the port became functional after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) initiated limited operations of the ASYCUDA World system on a special basis from Tuesday noon.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Md Omar Faruk, said that the one-stop service at the port has been established with Chittagong Custom House, removing barriers to product redemption.
However, the lack of internet connectivity in the offices of many shipping agents has caused issues in receiving IGMs sent by email for export consignments.
He confirmed that unloading goods at the outer anchorage, container, and cargo handling, and delivery at the main jetty of the port are functioning normally.