Working to bring automation in loading, unloading at Chittagong Port : Sakhawat
Chittagong Bureau
Chittagong Port complained that it takes more than 10 days to unload the ship and leave the port. So I visited a ship and spoke to the captain.
According to them manual unloading takes 6 to 7 days. Although now the load unloading time is much less than before. If we can bring automation in load unloading then this problem will be solved. We are working towards that goal.
Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain said this while talking to reporters after visiting Chittagong Port, Patenga Container Terminal and Bay-Terminal and Laldia Char on Tuesday.
The advisor said, Chittagong Port is the life line of Bangladesh. If the kind of mismanagement that existed here is not removed, our import and export trade will be threatened. That is why I came to visit Chittagong port. I have spoken to all concerned including the chairman, members of the Port.
Dr. Sakhawat Hossain said that the port alone is not responsible for the mismanagement of the port. There are still 20-year-old containers, 12-14-year-old cars. If this continues, it is not possible to increase the performance of the port. Auctioning of abandoned containers or vehicles is done by NBR. I have taken notes, how to solve these problems quickly. I will talk to the chairman of NBR about this.
The advisor said that our import and export activities are constantly increasing. After many years this activity will increase manifold. Currently we are getting around $18 per container handling. If the handling activities increase, the income will also increase manifold. Moreover, various domestic and foreign companies are waiting to invest in the bay terminal. If the Bay-Terminal opens, our income will multiply. So investors cannot be discouraged in any way.
At this time, he requested the media workers to highlight all the irregularities, corruption and mismanagement in any sector. Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority SM Moniruzzaman and related senior officials were present at the time
