The two rival political alliances of the country are prepared to face-off for establishing control over the port.

The 14-party coalition will try to halt the operation of the port as part of their countrywide blockade while BNP-led four-party alliance will try to keep the port operational, according to sources.

"We will work and resist if anybody wants to halt the operation of the port," said Nurullah Bahar a leader of a BNP-backed CBA at the port. He said, "We will keep the port operational at any cost."

"I think there will be no problem in handling of goods inside the port during the blockade," he told The Daily Star last night.

But the business community is however quite worried over the volatile situation around the port. They urged political leaders to solve the crisis immediately for the greater interest of trade, commerce and the economy.

The readymade garments (RMG) sector the main export oriented sector of the country -- alone will suffer a loss of Tk 200 crore each day of the blockade if the port shuts down, owners of garment factories and buying houses pointed out.

According to sources, 14-party coalition asked Chittagong City Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury to ensure complete stoppage of operation at the premier seaport.

The city mayor, who is also an AL leader, at a rally yesterday asked his party activists to enforce the blockade on railways, roads, and the port strictly. He gave special emphasis on work stoppage at the port.

According to local 14-party's programme, activists of the coalition will assemble at three points -- Nimtala (Jetty number--3), Saltgola and Alaka intersection -- around the port and will resist any attempt to deliver goods from the port yard.

They will not allow any truck in and out of the port during the blockade.

On the other hand, BNP led four-party alliance gave the charge of handling the port situation to its central leader Abdullah Al Noman who also looks after the party's labour front.

The four-party asked workers at the port loyal to the alliance to work during the blockade. They will also organise counter rallies and marches around the port and use 'political force' to keep the port operational, at least loading and unloading of goods in the port yard.

Although delivery of goods from the port might not be possible, handling of goods could be possible despite the blockade outside, according to sources.

Operation of the premier port remained suspended for 17 consecutive days before the 1996 parliamentary election bringing the then BNP government down, which had to meet the opposition's demand for holding every parliamentary election under a caretaker government.

This time around BNP-led four-party alliance, which recently relinquished state power, is not ready to allow the rival coalition to gain an upper hand at Chittagong port.

According to sources, BNP leaders asked its labour front to keep a continuous watch on the developments at the port.

Meanwhile, business leaders expressed deep concern over the volatile political situation in the country.

"The garment sector alone will suffer Tk 200 crore loss per day if Chittagong seaport is blockaded," said SM Fazlul Haque, president of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). The loss will be doubled considering the losses in other related industries like banks, insurance companies and the transportation sector.

The RMG sector which brings in 76 percent of the country's total export earnings, is the worst victim of such blockading of railways, roads and ports, he added.

BGMEA leaders observed that the existing political impasse should be resolved through discussions and dialogues for the sake of economic progress in the country.