CHATTOGRAM, Nov 04: As part of a reform initiative, a serial system for lighter ships from Chattogram to 34 sea routes was launched on Monday.
To make Bangladesh's shipping sector organised, corruption-free, and fair for all involved, the interim government has been reforming the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC).
Commodore Maqsood Alam, Director General of the Department of Shipping, inaugurated the system for the vessels at the office of BWTCC in the port city's Agrabad.
A total of 280 ships have already been included in the new serial system, which is set to gradually increase.
The transportation of goods on lighter vessels between Chattogram port and other inland ports will now be regulated under this new policy adopted by the Ministry of Shipping.
Under the new regulations gazetted on October 23, the system will be controlled by BWTCC, a joint body of Cargo Vessels Owners Association (BCVOA), Inland Vessels Owners Association of Chittagong (IVOAC), and Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh (CSOA).
The policy aims to help in the balanced allocation of lighter ship operations by ensuring that all import-export products, including food items, cement clinker, and fertilizers reach the right destination on time, benefiting lighter ship owners, importers-exporters, commodity agents, and local agents.
In light of the new policy, a 10-member supervisory committee has been formed to monitor the activities of the BWTCC.
During the former regime, over 2,000 lighter ships transported goods following serial procedures. After the collapse of BWTCC in 2023 amid internal allegations of irregularities and corruption, ship owners and importing ship owners have been fixing the fares through negotiation for the past year.
Importers secured the opportunity to transport goods at relatively low fares as a result, leaving many ordinary ship owners to suffer severely due to low fares, sources said.
DG Commodore Maqsood Alam said, "In order to make the shipping sector safe, fair, and orderly like other transport sectors of the country, lighterage ships should be able to transport goods from the Chittagong port in a serial system. The economic development of the country will be dynamic through normal and safe import and export and trade by the serial system."
Convenor BWTCC Convenor Saeed Ahmed said, "We, all three organizations held meetings in this regard. The issue of rent was discussed in detail in the meeting. We are trying to fix a reasonable fare rate considering the interests of all ship owners and importers in the country. The main aims of BWTCC are to eliminate corruption, treat everyone in a friendly manner, address all stakeholders' issues quickly, and create transparency and accountability of the cell."
Spokesperson of IVOAC Parvez Ahmed said, "We held meetings and discussed various issues. It is expected that a reasonable fare rate will be fixed."
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