Machine to be set up by Dec to identify illegal goods
Monday, 29 October 2007
CHITTAGONG, Oct 28 (UNB): Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Commodore M Faruque strongly recommends allowing regional transit trade through the seaport, saying that it would boost the income minimum 4-5 times.
"The port has the skills and qualities necessary to give transit facility," said Commodore Faruque while addressing an opinion-exchange meeting with newsmen at the Port Training Institute auditorium.
In reply to a question whether the port will allow transit facility, he said this is an issue of policymaking by the government.
"Only the government can give permission to use the seaport as transit. What I can say is the port's income will increase minimum 4-5 times for transit," he told the journalists.
The CPA Chairman said work of setting up vehicle scanning machine to identify illegally imported products would be completed by December. The capacity of container yard will also be raised to 30,000 TEUS (Twenty Equivalent Units) from the existing 22,500 TEUS by the period.
About corruption and irregularities in the port operations, the new CPA chief, Commodore Faruque, said the scenario of the seaport has changed after the January 11 political change.
"Discipline has returned to the port and harassment of exporters and importers also plummeted to zero level. Corruption like GATCO will no more be seen in future," he said.
The GATCO graft case, which landed ex-PM Khaleda Zia, her son Koco and others in jail, is one of the major cases instituted against bigwigs under the ongoing drive launched by the caretaker government against corruption.
Commodore Faruque informed the function that average stay of a ship at the port was 11 days before the 1/11 changeover and now it got reduced to three days.
He said 126 CCTV cameras have been set up at the port to ensure its foolproof security as well as to monitor activities of the port staff round the clock.
India and Nepal have been seeking transit facility for long through the Chittagong seaport. Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business organisations also have urged the government to give transit.
"The port has the skills and qualities necessary to give transit facility," said Commodore Faruque while addressing an opinion-exchange meeting with newsmen at the Port Training Institute auditorium.
In reply to a question whether the port will allow transit facility, he said this is an issue of policymaking by the government.
"Only the government can give permission to use the seaport as transit. What I can say is the port's income will increase minimum 4-5 times for transit," he told the journalists.
The CPA Chairman said work of setting up vehicle scanning machine to identify illegally imported products would be completed by December. The capacity of container yard will also be raised to 30,000 TEUS (Twenty Equivalent Units) from the existing 22,500 TEUS by the period.
About corruption and irregularities in the port operations, the new CPA chief, Commodore Faruque, said the scenario of the seaport has changed after the January 11 political change.
"Discipline has returned to the port and harassment of exporters and importers also plummeted to zero level. Corruption like GATCO will no more be seen in future," he said.
The GATCO graft case, which landed ex-PM Khaleda Zia, her son Koco and others in jail, is one of the major cases instituted against bigwigs under the ongoing drive launched by the caretaker government against corruption.
Commodore Faruque informed the function that average stay of a ship at the port was 11 days before the 1/11 changeover and now it got reduced to three days.
He said 126 CCTV cameras have been set up at the port to ensure its foolproof security as well as to monitor activities of the port staff round the clock.
India and Nepal have been seeking transit facility for long through the Chittagong seaport. Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business organisations also have urged the government to give transit.