Port services privatisation

Dhaka: The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Tuesday demanded transparent and open bidding process in the way to privatise the port services, including that of New Mooring Container terminal.

The chamber president, Latifur Rahman, hailed the caretaker government for the measures it has undertaken to improve the operation of Chittagong port.

‘We take this opportunity in re-emphasising that privatisation of the facilities of all services should be done through transparent open bidding process,’ Latifur stated at a press release.

‘The operation of the New Mooring container by private operators should also be decided in a transparent and fair international bidding process.’

It is learnt that the present government has started the use of ‘Key mounted granty crane’ for loading and unloading purposes of the containers at Chittagong port by private sector, instead of the port employees.

The pace of container handling has improved significantly soon after start of the operation activities by private company employees, port users said.

‘The measures have already helped improve efficiency in cargo handling and privatisation of the country’s soon to be operational New Mooring container terminal.’

The chamber said the Chittagong port, which handles 80 per cent of the country’s foreign trade was being blamed for its slow cargo handling, container congestions and corruption. ‘The turn-around time for feeder vessels in Chittagong is on an average 10 days compared with two days in Bangkok, one day in Singapore, three days in Mumbai and five days in Kolkata,’ reads the release.

‘The average cost for handling a 20-feet container at the Chittagong port is around 300 per cent higher than those of the other regional hub ports like Singapore, Colombo, Mumbai and Bangkok.’