Imperative for streamlining Ctg Port activities
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Shahiduzzaman Khan
Country's premier seaport - Chittagong - is again in trouble as the leaders of dock labour unions are threatening movement for reinstatement of retrenched dock workers and reinstallation of dock labour management board. During recent days, the dock labour unions have already staged sit-in, rallies and other agitation programmes in support of their demands. The unions claimed that the retrenched dockworkers were deprived of their rights and dues as the labour management board was abolished. Now there is no provision for any welfare fund for the dockworkers, they added.
According to media reports, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) also held a meeting with the leaders of dock unions in a bid to make an understanding for withdrawal of the agitation programme. Indeed, some efforts are there to resolve the issues through discussions. But there are still fear about fresh unrest, congestion of ships and cargo and disruption in port operation in the event of the movement of dock labour unions starting again.
The last caretaker government privatised the handling operations at the Chittagong port in a bid to free its activities from unions and to improve its efficiency. The Chittagong port, located in the vicinity of the Bay of Bengal, is pivotal to handling 90 per cent of the country's import and export cargo. Private berth operators are now engaged in handling ships and cargo at the port's 12 jetties and outer anchorage, after abolishing the age-old stevedoring systems dominated by dock workers unions. But now, the workers' unions are refusing to follow the reforms and restrictions made by the army-backed interim government to control union activities at the Chittagong port as they claimed, those were not ratified by the parliament.
However, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan warned that any quarter trying to create disruption in the port activities would be severely dealt with. About union activities, the minister contended that there would be only one organisation of the workers and employees of the port. No other organisation will be allowed to function except the one elected body. The port workers and employees will choose their representatives through election tentatively by this month. Those working under berth operators and other stakeholders may form a separate organisation to settle their issues with their own employers, he added. Reasonable demands of the workers and employees would be met in phases through discussions. He said the government would fill up 3,000 vacant posts of officials and employees within a short time.
The port users fear the government's move to reinstate workers sacked during the caretaker government might destabilise the port activities that had improved to a large extent. They said cargo movement at the Chittagong port has slowed down in recent days as the workers are organising meetings and rallies inside the port. They are also demanding better wages and other fringe benefits. Observers say the port should not take any step to rehabilitate axed workers as they used to disrupt port activities on various grounds. The present chairman of the CPA is reported to be against the re-appointment of axed workers who, according to him, will destabilise the port activities. Labour leaders have reportedly submitted a list of workers who lost jobs following the abolition of dock management board during the caretaker government. The port authority will scrutinise the list and only those who are energetic and hard working may be reinstated, he said.
There is no denying that the future of the country's economy depends on the Chittagong Port. The competitiveness of a limited number of export products of Bangladesh depends on it. The present and future of the country's main export product, readymade garments (RMG), is vitally linked to its performance; timely delivery of apparels and fastest receipt of raw materials of the RMG industries add to their vital competitiveness.
In recent months, Chittagong port's efficiency has declined significantly from the condition that prevailed during the caretaker government, due to intervention of local politicians and labour leaders. On this issue, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the working situation in the port that existed in the port before January 2007 and the fundamental reasons that promoted that situation, must not be allowed to return. It also suggested reorganising the CPA and changing its name to provide an effective, firm and resolute management and be the focus for co-ordination of all port activity and development.
A prudent strategy for fixing the Chittagong port will entail a three-pronged strategy involving capacity balancing, optimisation and expansion. Experts, however, suggested that the corporatisation of the CPA could pave the way for bigger investment in infrastructure development through private-public participation. Encouraging private sector operators with reputation and good track record in the construction, management and operation of facilities related to the interface between maritime port development and inland transport to facilitate bulk movement of cargoes is likely to have far reaching results.
The ADB expects Bangladesh will see a hefty 30 per cent increase in export by simply making the port more efficient. It said lack of port infrastructure and services are the key impediment to growth of export and investment as the port continues to be one of the slowest, most inefficient and costly in Asia.
The Chittagong Port can certainly be turned into the economic hub of Bangladesh, eastern India, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan by upgrading it from the sub-regional cooperation perspective. As such, its facilities need to be improved to help accelerate country's export-import trade. At the same time, it is, of course, necessary to improve rail, road and inland water transportation linked with the port.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com
Country's premier seaport - Chittagong - is again in trouble as the leaders of dock labour unions are threatening movement for reinstatement of retrenched dock workers and reinstallation of dock labour management board. During recent days, the dock labour unions have already staged sit-in, rallies and other agitation programmes in support of their demands. The unions claimed that the retrenched dockworkers were deprived of their rights and dues as the labour management board was abolished. Now there is no provision for any welfare fund for the dockworkers, they added.
According to media reports, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) also held a meeting with the leaders of dock unions in a bid to make an understanding for withdrawal of the agitation programme. Indeed, some efforts are there to resolve the issues through discussions. But there are still fear about fresh unrest, congestion of ships and cargo and disruption in port operation in the event of the movement of dock labour unions starting again.
The last caretaker government privatised the handling operations at the Chittagong port in a bid to free its activities from unions and to improve its efficiency. The Chittagong port, located in the vicinity of the Bay of Bengal, is pivotal to handling 90 per cent of the country's import and export cargo. Private berth operators are now engaged in handling ships and cargo at the port's 12 jetties and outer anchorage, after abolishing the age-old stevedoring systems dominated by dock workers unions. But now, the workers' unions are refusing to follow the reforms and restrictions made by the army-backed interim government to control union activities at the Chittagong port as they claimed, those were not ratified by the parliament.
However, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan warned that any quarter trying to create disruption in the port activities would be severely dealt with. About union activities, the minister contended that there would be only one organisation of the workers and employees of the port. No other organisation will be allowed to function except the one elected body. The port workers and employees will choose their representatives through election tentatively by this month. Those working under berth operators and other stakeholders may form a separate organisation to settle their issues with their own employers, he added. Reasonable demands of the workers and employees would be met in phases through discussions. He said the government would fill up 3,000 vacant posts of officials and employees within a short time.
The port users fear the government's move to reinstate workers sacked during the caretaker government might destabilise the port activities that had improved to a large extent. They said cargo movement at the Chittagong port has slowed down in recent days as the workers are organising meetings and rallies inside the port. They are also demanding better wages and other fringe benefits. Observers say the port should not take any step to rehabilitate axed workers as they used to disrupt port activities on various grounds. The present chairman of the CPA is reported to be against the re-appointment of axed workers who, according to him, will destabilise the port activities. Labour leaders have reportedly submitted a list of workers who lost jobs following the abolition of dock management board during the caretaker government. The port authority will scrutinise the list and only those who are energetic and hard working may be reinstated, he said.
There is no denying that the future of the country's economy depends on the Chittagong Port. The competitiveness of a limited number of export products of Bangladesh depends on it. The present and future of the country's main export product, readymade garments (RMG), is vitally linked to its performance; timely delivery of apparels and fastest receipt of raw materials of the RMG industries add to their vital competitiveness.
In recent months, Chittagong port's efficiency has declined significantly from the condition that prevailed during the caretaker government, due to intervention of local politicians and labour leaders. On this issue, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the working situation in the port that existed in the port before January 2007 and the fundamental reasons that promoted that situation, must not be allowed to return. It also suggested reorganising the CPA and changing its name to provide an effective, firm and resolute management and be the focus for co-ordination of all port activity and development.
A prudent strategy for fixing the Chittagong port will entail a three-pronged strategy involving capacity balancing, optimisation and expansion. Experts, however, suggested that the corporatisation of the CPA could pave the way for bigger investment in infrastructure development through private-public participation. Encouraging private sector operators with reputation and good track record in the construction, management and operation of facilities related to the interface between maritime port development and inland transport to facilitate bulk movement of cargoes is likely to have far reaching results.
The ADB expects Bangladesh will see a hefty 30 per cent increase in export by simply making the port more efficient. It said lack of port infrastructure and services are the key impediment to growth of export and investment as the port continues to be one of the slowest, most inefficient and costly in Asia.
The Chittagong Port can certainly be turned into the economic hub of Bangladesh, eastern India, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan by upgrading it from the sub-regional cooperation perspective. As such, its facilities need to be improved to help accelerate country's export-import trade. At the same time, it is, of course, necessary to improve rail, road and inland water transportation linked with the port.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com