Business Desk :
The government will install weight scales at 21 points on the highways in other parts of the country in phases to help maintain the durability of the roads.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mahbubul Alam has urged the government to lift the weight scales on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway to reduce transportation costs.
In a letter to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday, CCCI President said: “Businessmen from Chittagong are facing uneven competition from the rest part of the country as weight lifting scale on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway has been installed”
He said the country’s wholesale markets for consumers goods have been developed at Khatunganj, Chaktai, Asadganj and Korbaniganj while the wholesale market of rice has grown at Pahartali area.
As the government has not installed weight scales in other parts of the country, businessmen from Chittagong are facing uneven competition as transport costs have increased for them.
The CCCI Head added that the country’s 82% export and imports are being conducted through the Chittagong port.
Weight scales were installed at Sitakunda and Mirersaria areas with a ceiling of 13 tons per vehicle.
Mahbubul Alam claimed that putting a limit has increased transport costs from the port city to the other parts of the country.
He said, Chittagong alone contributes 12% to the GDP of the country.
Some large industries like steel, cement, shipbuilding and recycling industries have been developed over the years in Chittagong based on geography and port and infrastructure facilities.
CCCI leaders also urged that the Bangladesh Roads and Transport Authority and Roads and Highways lift weight scales on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Md Abdus Sabur said that the government will install weight scales at 21 points on the highways in other parts of the country in phases to help keep the durability of the roads.
He said over-loading of goods over a certain level damages the roads causing a loss to the government funds as they need repairing frequently.
