Ctg port operations: No room for slackness
Sunday, 22 March 2009
The country's economic lifeline, Chittagong port, saw a big improvement in its operations during the two-year rule of the immediate past caretaker government. Businesses and other stakeholders are unanimous in their assessment that following a set of reforms initiated by the caretaker administration, the quality of service and the turnaround time, the basic indicator of the performance level of any international seaport, improved remarkably. The turnaround time dropped to two and a half days from the previous 11 days, thus, meeting one of the longstanding demands of the port users. Earlier, it was almost free-for-all situation at the port, making it one of the most expensive ports in the world. The problem of congestion at the port had become so serious that international shipping lines started avoiding it.
The problems, mostly manmade, however, are yet to be eliminated completely despite the recent reform measures. The port authorities had been indifferent for long to improve the port's handling capacity through the installation of modern equipment, including the gantry cranes. However, when a few of the same got installed at a huge cost to the national exchequer, those were not used in full capacity by their operators unless their palms were greased by the exporters or importers concerned. At every place of the port, nothing moved an inch without speed money despite the fact the manpower employed at the port was in excess of the requirement. At times, the port authority did try to improve the situation. But the delinquent officials, employees and dock workers, who used to draw their strength from the local top level politicians, torpedoed the same. Interference of a very influential local politician in particular in the affairs of the port made the country pay a huge economic cost in recent years. Even the central leaders of his party tried in vain to dissuade him from lending support to errant labourers at the port.
However, following the 1/11 changeover, the administration had listed streamlining of the operations of the Chittagong port as a priority task. In consultation with the local trade bodies, some reform measures were initiated under constant monitoring by the members of the 'joint force'. The redundant manpower -- nearly 4000 labourers and equipment operators -- were retrenched and some officials jailed for their involvement in irregularities. All these steps had paid dividends immediately. There were no long queues of ships waiting to discharge or load goods in the outer anchorage. Those who flexed their muscles every now and then because of political connections disappeared fast and the extent of the use of bribe money also declined substantially. In sum, order was restored, leading to a remarkable fall in the turnaround time of the ships. However, according to a report, published in this daily last Saturday, the gains achieved during the last two years might again come under threat soon. The labourers who were retrenched earlier during the caretaker administration are trying to reorganizing themselves with support from certain political quarters. Moreover, winch operators at the port recently abstained form work for two hours and formed a human chain in support of their demands.
It is quite natural for the businessmen to oppose the return of indiscipline and highhandedness of a section of employees and workers of the Chittagong port. For, it would again start subjecting them to a lot of sufferings. However, there could be genuine grievances of the workers and employees serving at the port. Those need to be heard dispassionately by the appropriate authorities for taking necessary actions so that outsiders cannot take advantage of the situation and again make the port their fiefdom.
The problems, mostly manmade, however, are yet to be eliminated completely despite the recent reform measures. The port authorities had been indifferent for long to improve the port's handling capacity through the installation of modern equipment, including the gantry cranes. However, when a few of the same got installed at a huge cost to the national exchequer, those were not used in full capacity by their operators unless their palms were greased by the exporters or importers concerned. At every place of the port, nothing moved an inch without speed money despite the fact the manpower employed at the port was in excess of the requirement. At times, the port authority did try to improve the situation. But the delinquent officials, employees and dock workers, who used to draw their strength from the local top level politicians, torpedoed the same. Interference of a very influential local politician in particular in the affairs of the port made the country pay a huge economic cost in recent years. Even the central leaders of his party tried in vain to dissuade him from lending support to errant labourers at the port.
However, following the 1/11 changeover, the administration had listed streamlining of the operations of the Chittagong port as a priority task. In consultation with the local trade bodies, some reform measures were initiated under constant monitoring by the members of the 'joint force'. The redundant manpower -- nearly 4000 labourers and equipment operators -- were retrenched and some officials jailed for their involvement in irregularities. All these steps had paid dividends immediately. There were no long queues of ships waiting to discharge or load goods in the outer anchorage. Those who flexed their muscles every now and then because of political connections disappeared fast and the extent of the use of bribe money also declined substantially. In sum, order was restored, leading to a remarkable fall in the turnaround time of the ships. However, according to a report, published in this daily last Saturday, the gains achieved during the last two years might again come under threat soon. The labourers who were retrenched earlier during the caretaker administration are trying to reorganizing themselves with support from certain political quarters. Moreover, winch operators at the port recently abstained form work for two hours and formed a human chain in support of their demands.
It is quite natural for the businessmen to oppose the return of indiscipline and highhandedness of a section of employees and workers of the Chittagong port. For, it would again start subjecting them to a lot of sufferings. However, there could be genuine grievances of the workers and employees serving at the port. Those need to be heard dispassionately by the appropriate authorities for taking necessary actions so that outsiders cannot take advantage of the situation and again make the port their fiefdom.