Govt to enhance capacity, facility of Ctg Port

CHITTAGONG, May 11: The government is working to enhance capacity and facility of the Chittagong Port besides building two new ports in the country.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said this while launching a new container vessel at the Chittagong Port as the chief guest Sunday.
MV OEL BANGLADESH, a Panama flag vessel, would carry containerised import and export cargoes on the Singapore-Chittagong-Colombo route, said its local agent GBX Logistic Ltd.
The Singapore-based Orient Express Line's vessel had earlier carried cargoes under the name of MV Christa Rickmers to the Chittagong Port.
Shipping Secretary Syed Nazrul Islam was present at the inaugural function as the special guest, while Chairman of the Galaxy Group of Companies Waliur Rahman presided over it.
The minister said the government had also taken different steps to enhance operational capacity of Mongla Port.
 "Construction work of the Sonadia deep-sea port will start in the tenure of this government," said the minister.
In his address, Syed Nazrul Islam said different types of equipment were being procured to enhance handling capacity of Chittagong Port.
Former first vice president of BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said cargo handling capacity of the prime maritime port of Chittagong increased over the last few years but the port was still lagging far behind other ports of the region. Due to that the businesses had to suffer a lot.
He blamed the ministry and the port authority for keeping the New Mooring Container Terminal inoperative for long six years. "We don't know what lies behind keeping the NCT inoperative causing immense obstruction to the importers, exporters and port users," he said.
Chittagong Port Authority chairman Nizam Uddin Ahmed said operation of the NCT would start within one year. Handling capacity of the port would double within three years on the start of the NCT operation, he said.
Senior vice president of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) Amirul Islam and director (traffic) of the CPA Golam Sarwar, among others, were present on the occasion.