The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is allegedly sending some labour leaders to Germany and China on 'pleasure trip' on the pretext of acquiring experience on port operation, official sources said.
Secretary of the CPA Alauddin Mia recently sought permission from the ministry of shipping (MoS) for the proposed eight-day visit of the collective bargaining agent (CBA) leaders. The expenses of the trip of six employees will be borne from the training fund of the port.
Director (Traffic) of Chittagong port Golam Sarwar will head the team. Other members of the team are: chief personnel officer of CPA Omar Faruk, president of CBA and superintendent of traffic department Momtaj Uddin, office secretary of CBA and audit assistant Liaquat Ali, legal affairs secretary of CBA and senior documentation assistant Mokarram Hosen, and assistant secretary of CBA and senior operator Mohiuddin Dastagir.
The six-member team will visit Port of Hamburg in Germany, and Port of Tianjin in China to acquire knowledge about their operation and management 'aiming to make the Chittagong port most modern and time-befitting'.
Talking to the FE, CBA president Momtaj Uddin said the experience the team will acuire from the visit will ultimately be beneficial for the modernisation of the port.
"We have 14 departments here in Chittagong port. One department is linked to another. So, the experience will definitely be useful," he said.
Replying to a query he said: "We work 24 hours for the betterment of the port. We also need some leisure time as well."
Mr Uddin said during the rule of Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP), leaders from BNP-backed labour organisation went abroad several times with port's funding. "But I have visited only Vietnam and UAE four years back. So, our proposed visit to Germany and China is not illogical."
Asked about justification of sending four CBA leaders for such training, CPA secretary Alauddin Mia told the FE that the port authority can nominate any employee for training abroad.
Asked how the port will be benefited from foreign visit of CBA leaders, who always remain engaged in bargaining labour issues instead of performing their tasks, the port secretary said the higher authority selected them taking into consideration all the related aspects.
CPA Director (Admin) Zafar Alam said CBA leaders work in the port in different capacities. They also get promotion accordingly. "The foreign visit may add credit to their personal file."
CPA member Nazrul Islam did not want to comment on the issue when approached.
President of Chittagong City Awami League and former Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury told the FE the proposed visit of CBA leaders will be totally a pleasure trip.
 "These CBA people are only engaged in looting port's money with the help of management. Their visit to foreign ports in no way will be beneficial for the port," he said.
"The members of parliament and ministers concerned are just misappropriating port's money. When I make shout to stop corruption, they say I am working against the government," Mr Chowdhury said.
Pointing finger at some of the CBA leaders he said they are not elected representatives of labour organisations.
"One of them has taken job extension claiming him as freedom fighter. He is about to go on Leave Preparatory to Retirement (LPR). He should not be included in the list for foreign tour with port's money," Mr Chowdhury added.
Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on ministry of shipping Rafiqul Islam, MP, declined to make any comment on it.
But, he said, the minister has to use his discretion when giving approval to such foreign tour.
syful-islam@outlook.com