CHITTAGONG. Mar 2: Chittagong port faces congestion again as at least 70 cargo vessels were left stranded during .the continuous shutdowns In the city called by the major opposition parties to protest the arrest of Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

Besides, over 200.000 met ric tons of cargo remained stuck at the port sheds due to total suspension of delivery of goixis, port officials added.

Meanwhile, emergency measures were taken by the port authority today to resume day and night operations after the hartaTends at 6 pm.

Talking to this correspondent the acting chairman of Chittagong Port Authority tap tain Zahiruddin Mahmud said. "We have ordered all concerned officers and employees

of the port to start day and night operations from this evening to overcome the crisis.*

According to port sources. 45 cargo snips Including 10 container vessels remain stuck at the outer anchorage and 25 others were waiting at the port jetties. Cargo handling came to a total halt since February 24 due to Opposition s non-coog-

Port ^officials admitted that if the delivery of imported goods from the port sheds could not be expedited, it would be difficult to ease the space congestion.

Presently, stockpiled cargo at the port sheds Include about 60,000 tons of containerised goods but of a total of over 200.060 tons, port sources

■aid.

The sources added that 13.000 containers were now lying at the port sheds which have the normal capacity to hold 8.500 containers. .

During the Opposition's non-cooperation programme last week, three ministers, in-clftdlng the State Minister for Port and Shipping, made a determined effort to keep the port operations running. But their efforts failed in the face of resistance by the Opposition activists'.