Chittagong Bureau :
Port users at a press briefing here on Tuesday expressed concern over the delay in making the new mooring container terminal (NCT) in Chittagong port fully operational.
The NCT could not yet be made fully functional although its construction completed in 2007, the businessmen using the port regretted.
The businessmen need not to be anxious over the container terminal as it is at least partially functional, said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan when port users asked to know about the tentative time when the terminal could be made fully functional.
The press briefing after the 9th meeting of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee was held at Chittagong Port Training Institute Centre Auditorium.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubul Alam in his speech asked why the NCT could not be made fully operational even in the last seven years.
“Trade and commerce had been diversified to a great extent if the terminal could have been made fully functional. But it’s a matter of great regret that it could not be so,” said Mahbubul.
“Decisions are made in every meeting of the Port Advisory Committee but they are not implemented. So a timeframe should be fixed when the terminal will go into its full operation,” lamented the CCCI president.
Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, former first vice-president of BGMEA, said that the NCT was an issue of paramount importance. “To enhance the capacity of Chittagong port, there is no alternative to launching the NCT fully,” added Nasir.
Referring to the NCT, the minister further said that although they had succeeded in opening the NCT, they could not initiate it fully maintaining tender procedures.
“A committee has been formed in this regard. There are questions as to if it will be operated by the local or foreign operators,” said the minister.
“We are taking into consideration the ways and means of operating the terminal so that the port and country could reap benefit from it,” said Shajahan, adding that the committee was asked to immediately place the recommendations regarding the ICT.
City AL president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and also a member of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee said that Chittagong port has turned out to be a place of graft and corruption.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury in his speech presented a picture of corruption in the premier port through pointing out 13 specific anomalies.
Mohiuddin urged the minister to initiate activities to root out corruption in the port.
Referring to the allegation made by city AL president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, the minister said that Mohiuddin raised some allegations of graft and irregularities of Chittagong port which were discussed in the meeting.
“Some of the allegations of graft are logical while some others are illogical. The graft allegations will be resolved through legal processes,” Mohiuddin added.
Shamshul Haque Chowdhury MP in his speech also echoed the statement of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
He, however, criticised that some people presented the picture of corruption through publishing advertisement which widened rift among them.
“The NCT should be launched without delay for enhancing the capacity of Chittagong Port,” said Shamshul.
Referring to the allegation of Mohiuddin, M Abdul Latif MP in his speech said that there was hardly any place where there was no corruption.
“We should not come up with any wholesale allegation. You cannot say that all the officials of Chittagong port or Chittagong customs are corrupt,” said Latif.
With Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, chairman of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee, in the chair, the meeting was attended by members of the parliamentary standing committee on the Shipping Ministry, secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, berth operators and ship handling operators, trade body leaders from Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, BGMEA, BKMEA, C&F Agents Association, senior officials of the CPA and labour leaders of the port, among others.
Port users at a press briefing here on Tuesday expressed concern over the delay in making the new mooring container terminal (NCT) in Chittagong port fully operational.
The NCT could not yet be made fully functional although its construction completed in 2007, the businessmen using the port regretted.
The businessmen need not to be anxious over the container terminal as it is at least partially functional, said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan when port users asked to know about the tentative time when the terminal could be made fully functional.
The press briefing after the 9th meeting of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee was held at Chittagong Port Training Institute Centre Auditorium.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubul Alam in his speech asked why the NCT could not be made fully operational even in the last seven years.
“Trade and commerce had been diversified to a great extent if the terminal could have been made fully functional. But it’s a matter of great regret that it could not be so,” said Mahbubul.
“Decisions are made in every meeting of the Port Advisory Committee but they are not implemented. So a timeframe should be fixed when the terminal will go into its full operation,” lamented the CCCI president.
Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, former first vice-president of BGMEA, said that the NCT was an issue of paramount importance. “To enhance the capacity of Chittagong port, there is no alternative to launching the NCT fully,” added Nasir.
Referring to the NCT, the minister further said that although they had succeeded in opening the NCT, they could not initiate it fully maintaining tender procedures.
“A committee has been formed in this regard. There are questions as to if it will be operated by the local or foreign operators,” said the minister.
“We are taking into consideration the ways and means of operating the terminal so that the port and country could reap benefit from it,” said Shajahan, adding that the committee was asked to immediately place the recommendations regarding the ICT.
City AL president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and also a member of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee said that Chittagong port has turned out to be a place of graft and corruption.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury in his speech presented a picture of corruption in the premier port through pointing out 13 specific anomalies.
Mohiuddin urged the minister to initiate activities to root out corruption in the port.
Referring to the allegation made by city AL president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, the minister said that Mohiuddin raised some allegations of graft and irregularities of Chittagong port which were discussed in the meeting.
“Some of the allegations of graft are logical while some others are illogical. The graft allegations will be resolved through legal processes,” Mohiuddin added.
Shamshul Haque Chowdhury MP in his speech also echoed the statement of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
He, however, criticised that some people presented the picture of corruption through publishing advertisement which widened rift among them.
“The NCT should be launched without delay for enhancing the capacity of Chittagong Port,” said Shamshul.
Referring to the allegation of Mohiuddin, M Abdul Latif MP in his speech said that there was hardly any place where there was no corruption.
“We should not come up with any wholesale allegation. You cannot say that all the officials of Chittagong port or Chittagong customs are corrupt,” said Latif.
With Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, chairman of Chittagong Port Advisory Committee, in the chair, the meeting was attended by members of the parliamentary standing committee on the Shipping Ministry, secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, berth operators and ship handling operators, trade body leaders from Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, BGMEA, BKMEA, C&F Agents Association, senior officials of the CPA and labour leaders of the port, among others.
