A large volume of goods, some stuck for 15 years, occupying significant spaces of the Chittagong port area, are disrupting operational activities of the country's prime seaport, officials have said.
Until September last, some 63,000 tonnes of such goods had been awaiting auctions.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in last four years sent 22 letters to the Chittagong Customs House asking for auction of the goods, but fruitlessly.
Of the goods, there are some 346 units of cars, 1,233 units of 20 feet FCL containers, 951 units of 40 feet FCL containers, 49,833 packages of LCL cargoes, and 1,770 packages of bulk cargoes.
Director (Traffic) of the port Golam Sarwar told the FE the CPA hands over documents of goods to the Customs authority to hold auction or destroy whenever those are found eligible for the same.
Then it is for the Customs authority to conduct auction or destroy those to free the spaces of the port for its smooth operations, he said.
Mr Sarwar said presently some goods, which are even 10 to 15 years old, are lying in the port.
He said the auction procedure is very slow. As a result, such unwanted goods create logjam in the port disrupting operational activities. "The delay in holding auctions or destroying the goods is affecting the storage capacity of the port."
In a recent letter to the Commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Mr Sarwar said the goods are being damaged and losing their value since those are awaiting auctions for a long time. As a result, the government is deprived of a significant amount of revenue from the same, he noted.
Mr Sarwar said he sends reminder almost every month to the Customs authority to sell the goods through auction as early as possible.
Asked about delay in holding auctions of the goods or damaging those he said sometimes the owners of the goods go to the courts and get orders in their favour compelling the Customs authority to stop their auction or destruction.
Mr Sarwar said utilisation of entire capacity of the port is essential to improve the efficiency index of the port. But the dumped goods are causing barriers to such a move, he said.
A senior CPA official said the Customs House has sold only 60 cars through auction in last five years while some 887 cars are waiting in the port and are getting damaged.
Months back, the CPA informed the ministry of shipping that since 2010 only 60 cars were sold through auction. Of them, 30 were sold in 2010, 22 in 2011, seven in 2012, and one in 2013.
No cars, however, were sold through auction in 2014 and until March of 2015.
Commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Hossain Ahmed could not be reached for a comment despite several attempts.
However, a senior official of the Customs House earlier told the FE that they hold auction of goods once a month and even sometimes twice.
He said all other goods are sold in auctions except cars due to various complications.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
