Ctg Port scanner installation set to complete by year-end

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Country's export activities will enter a new era by end of this year as the National Board of Revenue (NBR) expects to complete its installation of container scanners at Chittagong Port within next two months, reports UNB.
"Yes, we expect to complete the installation of four container scanners by end of this year," NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid told the news agency on telephone Thursday night.
He said that they had already given the work order to the supplier company, SGS Bangladesh.
The recently started automation system at Chittagong Port will get a big boost with installation of the NBR container scanners.
The EU countries made mandatory installation of container scanners at ports by 2009 while the USA deadline for importing any consignment from another country is 2010.
The government financed the much-talked-about installation of container scanners at Chittagong Port after the Asian Development Bank (ADB) refused to fund it on the ground of a re-tendering plan by the government.
The ADB was supposed to fund the scheme, but later changed its mind following a government move to call fresh tender by scrapping the deal with a previous bid winner.
The scheme, which was initiated in 2003 by the BNP-led alliance government, envisages installation of scanner machines, computerisation of operational system and construction of a flyover to ease traffic congestion in the port area.
As the lowest bidder, the pre-shipment inspection company M/s Cotecna Inspection SA had won the installation job. But the government cancelled the previous tender due to cancellation of its agreement with Cotecna on charges of irregularities.