Many can't take part as new conditions tagged

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 29: The bidding to appoint new cargo berth operators for Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has started but new conditions have been tagged for which many will not be able to take patt.
The CPA has already completed the tender process for appointment of operator for one general cargo berth (GCB) while the tender for appointment of operators for GCB 4 and 8 will be held on November 04.
Besides, the tender for appointment of operators for container cargo berths (CCBs) will be held after the tenders of GCB.
But, many berth operators will be unable to participate at the tender as the CPA is imposing 'critical conditions' including five years' experience of handling cargoes at ports in Bangladesh.
Sources said, there are six berth operators which are handling the general cargo berths of Chittagong port for more than one decade.
Sources said, CPA used to prepare the tender documents including its conditions and schedules, and only six companies for GCB and six for CCB could participate at the tenders. Other companies could not participate at the tender due to the conditions of CPA.
In the mean time, the ministry has amended the conditions for participating at the tender. Earlier, three years' experience of handling cargoes at Chittagong port was essential for participating at the tender to operate the berths while the amended conditions include last five years' experience of handling cargoes at any port in Bangladesh.
Enamul Karim, director traffic of CPA, said, "The ministry has amended the conditions of tender. The operators who have five years' experience of handling cargoes at any port in Bangladesh are eligible. Earlier, the operators needed only three years' experience."
He said, "As per conditions of the tender, at least 30 operators can participate at the tender in the current year. Of them, three are of Mongla port, and one is of Pyra port."
He said, "The ministry and CPA finalised the conditions of the tender. The operators, who can fulfil the conditions, can participate at the tender." Sources said, there were 56 operators who operated the handling of containers and cargoes through the Dock Workers Board before one-eleven.
During the one-eleven, the then government and management of CPA allowed six operators to operate general cargoes and six for operating containers after dissolving the Dock Workers Board.
At that time, the management divided the total 13 jetties of Chittagong port into 12 berths. Of these, six are container berths while rest six are cargo berths.
The management of that time handed over the handling charge to 12 stevedoring companies as main operators and 28 companies as associate operators. Besides, the management also gave charge to 16 stevedoring companies for handling containers and cargoes at the outer anchorage.
But, after the one eleven regime, the said six operators 'captured' the handling of GCB port and six others captured container cargo berths. Others could not participate at the tenders due to critical conditions including experience. As other companies could not handle the cargoes and containers after one-eleven, they have no experience in this regard.
It may be mentioned that other companies tried to participate at the tender as new berth operators for Chittagong seaport. Of these, three companies sent letters in this regard to the CPA earlier to make the condition easier for operators.

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