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Change Your Life! |
Day-long dialogue on port problems |
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News
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July 23, 2000
Dhaka (UNB)- Admitting inadequate infrastructure facilities the Chittagong Port Authority yesterday lamented its limitations to function independently for developing the port and meet growing demand. "We're supposed to be an autonomous body by law, but not in practice… We can't even recruit one per cent of our manpower without decision from the Establishment Ministry," CPA Chairman Commodore Golam Rabbani told a dialogue. The Daily Star and Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BMGEA) jointly organised the day-long dialogue on port problems at Hotel Sheraton. Parliament members, business leaders, ministry officials, port authorities and users, and stakeholders identified the problems and suggested remedies to make ports more efficient. Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam moderated. The dialogue dwelt on port problems in three areas: physical and infrastructural bottlenecks, procedural problems and socio-political factors. Those factors altogether made the Chittagong Port one of the costliest in South Asia and unless the incidental costs are brought down, Bangladesh will lose an opportunity to establish the strategically important port as a cargo-handling hub in the region, the speakers pointed out. Restructuring of ports, procurement of new equipment, taming trade unionism were among the suggestions came up from the dialogue to overcome the problems that retard economic growth. Data placed at the dialogue showed trade volume increased more than threefold and the number of vessels calling at Chittagong port increased three times since 1971. But the capacity of the port that commands 90 per cent of export and 75 per cent of import of the country has not grown to meet the growing demand. Chittagong port handled 392,137 Teus container, more than double its capacity, in 1999 and it has been maintaining a revenue surplus of well over Tk 100 crore annually during the last few years. "Yet the CPA spending for development project has virtually been next to nothing," said BK Chowdhury of James Finlay, in his paper on physical and infrastructural problems of Chittagong Port presented at the dialogue. CPA director (Traffic) Mohsin Sarkar said they have got government's approval to procure 142 new equipment, but the 'shortest possible time' to install those is two years. Mongla Port chairman Commodore KM Ahmed said they have the capacity to share the burdens of Chittagong Port. This would be possible with completition of Dhaka-Mawa-Mongla road and Rupsha Bridge. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury MP said Chittagong Port's annual revenue earning could be raised to Tk 1000 crore from existing Tk 374 crore if additional 'miscellaneous expenditures' of importers at the port could be checked. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury MP suggested the ports be developed like business enterprises to ensure efficient services. Port users felt that pressure on Chittagong Port could be reduced if import cargoes are allowed handling in private container freight stations (CFSs), which are now handling only export cargoes. Responding to this, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury argued they have not adequate customs manpower to allow private CFSs to handle import cargoes also. Setting up warehouses in private sector is allowed, but no application has so far received for this, he pointed out. "Private sector participation is heard in conferences, not in practice." They also suggested maximising the use of Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kamalapur and introducing more trains on Dhaka-Chittagong line. An official Chittagong Poret, however, told the dialogue that they are hoping to bring in much needed rail mounted gantry crane to fasten loading and unloading of containers at ICD. Expressing doubts over authorities' assurance of bringing new equipment, Clearing and Forwarding Association leader AKM Akhtar Hossain suggested handing over of operation of equipment to private sector. Port problems could be mitigated to a great extent if whatever equipment are now available used properly, he said. Frozen Food Association president Kazi Shahnewaz felt the need for a political decision to keep ports outside the purview of hartals and strike. Shippers' Council Chairman Hasan Moniruzzaman said good infrastructures would not ensure better service unless labour unions at ports are tamed. Commerce Ministry official Shah Alam questioned the rationale of appointing army personnel as the chiefs of the ports. With a little or no experience of dealing with even a frigate, how a naval official can successfully lead a port involving huge strategic and commercial importance, he asked.
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