Speaking at a press conference, they said around 1,200 containers are now stuck at the port and the buyers have stopped inspection of items ready for shipment.

They fear that export items worth another Tk 200 crore will soon be stockpiled at Zia International Airport for emergency air shipment because the garment exporters cannot afford to lose the 'lead time.'

They have called upon the government to resolve the stalemate within 24 hours. Otherwise, it would create a havoc in the garments sector, they said.

Terming the Bangladesh Flag (Protection) Ordinance, 1982 outdated, the garments sector leaders demanded its immediate suspension. There should be an initiative to scrap the Ordinance in the greater interest of the nation.

"The leading buyers have already expressed grave concern at the situation," said BGMEA President Quazi Moniruzzaman.

He appealed to the government to raise the issue at the next cabinet meeting and find a permanent solution to the problem.

He said the garments owners expect development of local shipping, but not at the cost of the export-import business and a sector like the garments which employs more than 18 lakh workers.

Moniruzzaman said following the government's circular, the Main Line Operators (MLOs) have also stopped loading Bangladesh-bound goods, mainly raw materials from ports around the world.

The BGMEA president told journalists that foreign buyers have threatened to cancel business deals with them if the situation does not improve soon.

He further said the BGMEA is planning to file a case with the court to seek compensation for the damage caused by the delay in shipment of exportable goods.

The garments owners would have to make air shipment at their own cost if they fail to ship the items. Most of the items are exported on the basis of Free on Board (FoB) and the local exporters do not have to bear the transport costs, he said.

The results of this stalemate would be felt within a few months and around 100 garment factories would be affected, said Anisul Huq, former vice-president and director of the BGMEA.

SM Nurul Haque, first vice-president of the BGMEA, Zinnat Ali Mian, second vice president and President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industry (BCI) A K Azad and other BGMEA leaders were present at the conference.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association

President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Monjurul Haq in a statement sought direct intervention of the prime minister to end the crisis. "Otherwise, the garments sector would face a disaster," he observed.

Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association

President of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association Quazi Monirul Haq appealed to the prime minister to take immediate steps to resolve the deadlock.

Expressing grave concern at the situation, he said the crisis might reduce export earnings from the frozen foods sector.

Urging the authorities concerned to work out an acceptable formula to solve the problem immediately, the BFFEA president said the crisis affected loading of frozen food items as a huge quantity of exportable goods were waiting to be loaded into containers at Chittagong and Mongla ports.

Seafood Export Buying Agents Association of Bangladesh

President of the Sea food Export Buying Agents Association of Bangladesh Kamal Ahmed in a separate statement observed that the shipping crisis would seriously hurt the frozen foods sector.

Unless shipments are made within the stipulated time, overseas buyers will cancel their pending orders and move on to other exporting countries which are strong competitors of our products, he said.

Shippers Council of Bangladesh

Chairman of the Shippers Council of Bangladesh Faruber Anwar also expressed deep concern over the deadlock at the Chittagong Port.

The council has been receiving numerous letters and protests from the shippers and importers of the country regarding the stalemate at the port, he said in a statement last night.

"Like all other trade bodies, the Shippers Council also believes that the Bangladesh Flag Vessel (Protection) Ordinance goes against the free market policy of the government," he said.

Faruber Anwar demanded immediate scrapping of the ordinance and observed that Bangladeshi flag vessels do not have sufficient capacity to carry all the exportable goods.