
Stalemate over trial run of Ctg port CTMS automation
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Sept 9: Trial run of Container Terminal management System (CTMS) automation in Chittagong Port is not taking place on September 11 as re-scheduled earlier as the port authority and the RMG exporters are yet to reach a consensus over the existing relaxation of cut-off time for export containers.
In the backdrop of the stalemate, the government has initiated an awareness meeting with the garment and knitwear exporters in Chittagong tomorrow (September 10) and another meeting with them in Dhaka on September 11.
BGMEA first vice president Nasiruddin Chowdhury has said they will exchange views with shipping secretary Abdul Mannan Hawladar and chairman of Chittagong Port Authority commodore Anwarul Islam at the BGMEA conference room in Chittagong at 3.0 pm on Saturday.
BGMEA representative on Customs activities in the Port AM Mahboob Chowdhury said another crucial meeting with the shipping ministry and the port authority will also be held at the BGMEA conference hall in Dhaka on Sunday.
The meeting will be attended by shipping minister Shajahan Khan, shipping secretary A Mannan Hawladar, CPA chairman Anwarul Islam and the senior leaders of the BGMEA and BKMEA, he said.
The Taka 370 million worth project of export container listing titled Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) could not be commissioned on August 14 as the garment exporters objected the CPA move to withdraw the existing cut-off time facilities after automation of the export containers.
Mahboob Chowdhury told the FE today that the CPA intended to withdraw the facilities irrationally which will put the country's major foreign exchange earner in jeopardy.
"Cancellation of the cut-off time offered especially for the BGMEA and BKMEA will lead to failure of the export target and turn many RMG factories into sick industries," he said.
He said that the CPA chairman does not want to understand that the cut-off time cannot be relaxed simply for five to seven per cent volume of the whole export system under the CTMS when many industries have fallen sick due to short supply of gas and electricity.
CPA chairman said he is fully ready to commission the automation of export containers. If implemented, the automation will enhance productivity of the yards as the container stacking will be done according to its geographical location.
It will reduce waiting time of the vessels and utilise the handling equipment in a planned way, he added.