ALLEGATIONS have been raised against a section of Chattogram Port Authority officials for their involvement in various illegal activities, including taking bribes from the port users. They raised the allegations during a public hearing jointly orgainsed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and Corruption Prevention Committee, Chattogram on Tuesday. Chattogram divisional and district administrations supported in holding the event. The users categorically said that a section of port officials, employees and equipment operators were taking bribes, harassing them and wasting time in discharging of their imported or exported goods. They also complained that irregularities have been happening during the delivery of goods and containers from the port, and also during loading, unloading and transfer of goods and containers inside the port.
According to media report, a total of 52 complaints were raised. Of them, delaying discharge of consignments by staffers of the One Stop Service Centre, storing imported containers at yards, delaying transfer of containers inside the port by crane operators and damage of goods caused by equipment operators if not bribed – are most serious. Several clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents said some crane operators and staffers cause unnecessary delay in finding containers at the yards and transporting those inside the port unless they are bribed Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 for each container. Director of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association complained about long delay in auctioning off the undelivered imported containers by the customs authorities. That means, the users are paying bribes but in repose they are not getting deserved services.
Against this backdrop, ACC has directed the CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqur Aziz to investigate the allegations and submit reports to the graft watchdog within a stipulated time. However, CPA Chairman assured the port users of resolving the prevailing problems. We must say any such allegation of corruption and irregularity would tarnish the image of the sea port. Corruption is nothing new in Chattogram Port. There is not a single department where anyone could get any service without paying bribe money. As more than 80 percent import-export are done through Chattogram Port, so is a large scope for corruption centering the port activities. It needs round-the-clock monitoring to check massive irregularities and improve the service of the port.
