Chittagong port: Return of the old days is unwelcome
Monday, 17 August 2009
Shamsul Huq Zahid
That 'democracy' represents the people's power does not require any elaboration. There are thousands of quotable quotes of famous and not-so-famous people eulogizing democracy. But democracy has its pitfalls when it is practiced half-heartedly or dishonest people are out to take undue advantage of it.
It may appear rather strange to many if one tries to trace a link between democratic rule and the state of affairs with the country's premier seaport of Chittagong. But the fact remains that the operational efficiency of the port has suffered time and again in recent years under democratic dispensation. Indiscipline induced from outside among the dock workers and port employees by the local political Machiavellians has taken a heavy toll on the businesses engaged in export and import activities and also on the economy.
The Chittagong port until late 2006 had been rated as a one of the worst -performing ports in the world by the international shipping companies because of its very high turnaround time. Many reputed shipping companies avoided coming to this port where labour trouble had been almost a regular feature. The port authority was virtually helpless as scores of labour unions operating at the port, which draw strength from political elements outside, acted according to their whims.
The port during the rule of the BNP-led alliance government had installed a number of equipment at the port to boost the latter's cargo handling capacity and appointed private companies to manage cargo handling. But the dockworkers and labour unions had created lots of obstacles, including frequent work stoppage, to the move. There were some improvements in the cargo handling capacity but the businesses did not get any relief from the hassles, financial and otherwise. The business bodies had drawn the attention of the top government leaders to their plight but with no effect. Actually, the latter could not take any hard decision for political reasons.
But the situation improved at the Chittagong port dramatically after the takeover of the military-backed caretaker government that ruled the country for more than two years. Trade union activities at the port was banned and more than 2500 dockworkers were sacked.
The turnaround time of ships reduced sharply with full restoration of discipline in all areas of the port. The outer-anchorage where ships had to wait for weeks to get berthing opportunities remained empty most of the times because of the remarkable improvement in berthing as well as cargo handling.
This scribe had the opportunity to go inside the port in November 2007 and observe the situation there. The operation of the port was very disciplined and orderly. The premises were found clean. The usual chaotic scene inside the port area was very much absent since restrictions were imposed on the entry into the port area. The use of speed money was still there. But those who indulged in it did it very secretly and also skillfully to avoid detection.
Now with the change of guards at the helm of state affairs, the port is, apparently, poised to go back to its old days of indiscipline and chaos, leading to sufferings of the business and loss to the national economy.
Following the return of trade union activities, the port workers have been organizing unscheduled meetings and rallies inside the port area in support of the demands for better wages and other fringe benefits, thus, slowing down normal cargo handling activities. The operation at the main area of the port's container terminal remained suspended for more than six hours on August 13 last due to the holding of such programmes.
Newly appointed shipping minister Shajahan Khan during a visit to the port city last week hinted that the government might reinstate the port workers sacked by the immediate past caretaker government. The hint has not gone well with the port users, who feel that such action might bring back chaos and anarchy to the port.
It is hard to oppose reinstatement of poor workers. But, at times, the management, private or public, is forced to take hard decisions for the greater interest of their respective organizations. So, the government must not rush to a decision on the reinstatement. It should look into the context under which the caretaker administration had sacked those workers and how relevant was their sacking to the overall operational efficiency of the port. If the government finds a better way to compensate the sacked workers, it should opt for that. The government, for the greater interest of the economy, must not give in to pressure coming form local political bullies, having allegiance to the ruling party or to some other party.
The Chittagong port is the economic lifeline of the country. Businesses who had suffered a lot in the past in terms of the cost of doing business, heaved a sigh of relief with a remarkable improvement in the overall operation of the port between 2007 and 2008. They do not like to go back to old days of chaos and confusion with the restoration of democracy after a gap of two years. The political government must not allow the return of the chaotic days and take the blame of making things difficult for the businesses.
That 'democracy' represents the people's power does not require any elaboration. There are thousands of quotable quotes of famous and not-so-famous people eulogizing democracy. But democracy has its pitfalls when it is practiced half-heartedly or dishonest people are out to take undue advantage of it.
It may appear rather strange to many if one tries to trace a link between democratic rule and the state of affairs with the country's premier seaport of Chittagong. But the fact remains that the operational efficiency of the port has suffered time and again in recent years under democratic dispensation. Indiscipline induced from outside among the dock workers and port employees by the local political Machiavellians has taken a heavy toll on the businesses engaged in export and import activities and also on the economy.
The Chittagong port until late 2006 had been rated as a one of the worst -performing ports in the world by the international shipping companies because of its very high turnaround time. Many reputed shipping companies avoided coming to this port where labour trouble had been almost a regular feature. The port authority was virtually helpless as scores of labour unions operating at the port, which draw strength from political elements outside, acted according to their whims.
The port during the rule of the BNP-led alliance government had installed a number of equipment at the port to boost the latter's cargo handling capacity and appointed private companies to manage cargo handling. But the dockworkers and labour unions had created lots of obstacles, including frequent work stoppage, to the move. There were some improvements in the cargo handling capacity but the businesses did not get any relief from the hassles, financial and otherwise. The business bodies had drawn the attention of the top government leaders to their plight but with no effect. Actually, the latter could not take any hard decision for political reasons.
But the situation improved at the Chittagong port dramatically after the takeover of the military-backed caretaker government that ruled the country for more than two years. Trade union activities at the port was banned and more than 2500 dockworkers were sacked.
The turnaround time of ships reduced sharply with full restoration of discipline in all areas of the port. The outer-anchorage where ships had to wait for weeks to get berthing opportunities remained empty most of the times because of the remarkable improvement in berthing as well as cargo handling.
This scribe had the opportunity to go inside the port in November 2007 and observe the situation there. The operation of the port was very disciplined and orderly. The premises were found clean. The usual chaotic scene inside the port area was very much absent since restrictions were imposed on the entry into the port area. The use of speed money was still there. But those who indulged in it did it very secretly and also skillfully to avoid detection.
Now with the change of guards at the helm of state affairs, the port is, apparently, poised to go back to its old days of indiscipline and chaos, leading to sufferings of the business and loss to the national economy.
Following the return of trade union activities, the port workers have been organizing unscheduled meetings and rallies inside the port area in support of the demands for better wages and other fringe benefits, thus, slowing down normal cargo handling activities. The operation at the main area of the port's container terminal remained suspended for more than six hours on August 13 last due to the holding of such programmes.
Newly appointed shipping minister Shajahan Khan during a visit to the port city last week hinted that the government might reinstate the port workers sacked by the immediate past caretaker government. The hint has not gone well with the port users, who feel that such action might bring back chaos and anarchy to the port.
It is hard to oppose reinstatement of poor workers. But, at times, the management, private or public, is forced to take hard decisions for the greater interest of their respective organizations. So, the government must not rush to a decision on the reinstatement. It should look into the context under which the caretaker administration had sacked those workers and how relevant was their sacking to the overall operational efficiency of the port. If the government finds a better way to compensate the sacked workers, it should opt for that. The government, for the greater interest of the economy, must not give in to pressure coming form local political bullies, having allegiance to the ruling party or to some other party.
The Chittagong port is the economic lifeline of the country. Businesses who had suffered a lot in the past in terms of the cost of doing business, heaved a sigh of relief with a remarkable improvement in the overall operation of the port between 2007 and 2008. They do not like to go back to old days of chaos and confusion with the restoration of democracy after a gap of two years. The political government must not allow the return of the chaotic days and take the blame of making things difficult for the businesses.