There are a few problems in this country that apparently would never be solved, no matter how damaging they prove to be to the country's interest.
Water-logging, traffic jam, poor road conditions, lack of necessary infrastructures etc., are the problems that do very often hit newspaper headlines. The media efforts to draw the policymakers' attention with the objective of finding a solution to these problems, unfortunately, are not paying any dividend. The problems, in most cases, have remained unresolved for long. Rather, in some areas, they have intensified further.
Inefficiency of the Chittagong port is one such problem that is hurting the economy in general and businesses in particular for decades. Volumes have been said and written about the problems that the port users, including shipping lines, have been facing. It would be, however, unfair to say that there has not been any improvement in the situation. Certainly, the situation has improved to some extent, but it is well beyond the desired level.
The operation of the port would have collapsed entirely had the anarchic phase that the port witnessed during the 90s and beyond still persisted. Workers' highhandedness, scarcity of cargo handling equipment and lack of space at jetties etc., had virtually crippled the operation of the country's premier port for many years. Political interference in the operational areas of the port had vitiated the overall environment. Fortunately, that phase is over now. Otherwise, the situation would have been far worse.
With the volume of export-import-cargo rising continuously, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has made efforts to improve the capacity of the port. It has beefed up cargo handling capacity and allowed building of private container terminals.
But compared to the level of rise in the volume of external trade-related cargoes, the overall services offered by the port authority and other government agencies are still highly inadequate. Such inadequacy is taking a heavy toll on businesses.
To highlight the problems encountered by businesses, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on Saturday last organised a roundtable in Dhaka.
The issue of turnaround time came up first during the deliberations on the port. The turnaround time at the Chittagong Port is now said to be between 5 to 7 days. The same in the case of Singapore port is 1.38 days, Shanghai 0.96 day, Busan port 0.68 day, Kolkata port 4.18 days and Colombo port 1.7 days. The turnaround time does speak of the efficiency level of the country's premier port.
Other major problems highlighted at the roundtable included inadequate handling capacity, customs clearance-related complexities, lack of contingency plan for peak business season and importers' delay in emptying containers.
As usual businesses complained that their cost of doing business has gone up because of the inefficiencies on the part of various agencies, including the CPA.
Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, a veteran business leader and president of the International Chamber of Commerce- Bangladesh (ICCB), while taking part in the discussion at the programme, suggested transfer of the operational part of the Chittagong port to a private operator.
The chairman of the CPA, who was present at the discussion meeting spoke in the same vein and disclosed that the government would float an international tender to transfer the operation of the port to the private sector.
That is a good idea, no doubt. Involvement of an efficient and experienced private operator in port operation is expected to deliver welcome results. But some vested quarters may not be interested to see such a change. They could try to torpedo the plan. The government needs to be watchful.
However, prior to handing over the operational part of the port to any private party, the CPA would have to raise capacity of the port, particularly in areas of cargo handling. The port must be equipped with more gantry cranes, more jetties and more container storage space. Importers would have to be forced to take delivery of containers within the shortest possible time.
But mere shortening of turnaround time and raising the cargo handling capacity of the port would not serve the purpose. There are a few other agencies, including customs, operating at the port. The inefficiency and propensity to indulge in irregularities, financial or otherwise on the part of these agencies, are no less responsible for the sufferings being caused to businesses.
So, all the agencies operating at the port need to work in sync to help improve the service delivery to all port users, including businesses and shipping lines. The allegation made by businesses about the high cost involved in taking services at the port need to be addressed with earnestness and sincerity.
zahidmar10@gamil.com
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