United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday highlighted the critical need to develop the port city of Chattogram, saying that enhanced infrastructure, particularly road communications, would naturally follow if Chittagong Port is modernised and expanded. The Chief Adviser made the remarks when he was briefed about the traffic situation of Oxygen-Hathazari road leading to the Chittagong University campus. "The betterment of Chattogram means the betterment of the country. Without it, Bangladesh cannot move ahead. The development of Chattogram will inevitably improve road infrastructure in Chattogram city and district," said the Chief Adviser. Sayed Moinul Hasan, Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways, briefed the Chief Adviser on the current condition of the crucial 16-kilometre stretch of road. On average, he said, some 31,955 vehicles use the road every day and 76 percent of them were two-wheelers, slowing traffic movement. Prof Yunus seeks coordinated, effective steps to get rid of Ctg waterlogging Nine markets along the road also create traffic congestion, he said, suggesting their removals. Moinul Hasan said a separate road from Solosohar using railway land could also reduce the pressure on the road. The Roads and Highways Chief Engineer also suggested the construction of elevated highways to ease traffic congestion on Oxygen-Hathazari roads. Ctg port must emerge as best with international standard facilities to help grow economy Eminent citizens of Chattogram also came up with different suggestions, including the construction of an overpass after every 200-400 meters to ease traffic congestion on the vital road.

Describing Chittagong Port as the heart of the nation’s economy, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday emphasised the need to transform it into a true seaport of international standards. He said a new chapter in Bangladesh’s economy cannot be opened ignoring the Chittagong Port and laid emphasis on expanding its capacity and gradually making it stronger. “Bangladesh’s economy cannot be seen as the best economy if the port is not made the best port,” Prof Yunus said. The Chief Adviser said they are talking to the best companies of the world having vast experience in port handling. He laid emphasis on moving in a faster way to address the port issues. The Chief Adviser said the enhanced port facilities will help attract foreign investment in a big way, and Bangladesh’s economy will see massive growth. Top Global Port Management Companies Invited Prof Yunus said the interim government has taken initiatives to turn Chittagong Port into a world-class facility by inviting top global port management companies. “It will be big a opportunity for us,” said the Chief Adviser, adding that once the government plans are materialised, it will improve the economy of the country and create jobs for thousands of people. “If we have to change the economy of Bangladesh, Chittagong Port is the hope. Without it, there is no alternative,” he said. The Chief Adviser said, “If the heart is weak, no physician could make it function better. This is why we have to make it world-class.” “They (top global port management firms) were called earlier, but there was no meaningful progress,” he said. “This heart has to be connected with neighbours, that is why I said about Nepal, Seven Sisters (seven northeastern states of India). If they are connected to it, they will be benefited and so will be us. Those who will not be connected will be the losers,” he said. Recalling his childhood memory with Chittagong Port, the Chief Adviser said he was waiting for this visit. “Chittagong Port is not a new place to me. I am familiar with it since my childhood. It has changed a lot over the years, but it's sad to see that its changes are slow. Since I got a chance, from day one I was trying to see what could be done for it,” he said. “The world has moved a lot, and we are lagging a lot behind. Nobody cares about it. This is why I was pushing for change. "I asked to hand over the charge of port handling to world's top operators. I hope everyone would realise it,” he said. Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Shakwat Hossain lauded the Chief Adviser’s eagerness to improve the port facilities in Chittagong. He said the construction of several terminals surrounding the Chittagong Port would ease container congestion. “I hope within six months you will notice the change,” he said. Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman laid emphasis on modernisation of Chittagong Port, saying that it handles 92 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign trade and 98 percent of this trade is handled by New Mooring Container Terminal. There is no alternative available to it at the moment, he said, adding that due to natural reasons, ships above a length of 200 metres cannot anchor in Chittagong Port. Due to this, Bangladesh suffers a loss of around 1 million (Dollars or Taka ) a day, he said, quoting a World Bank study. Prof Yunus lands in Ctg as he begins tour with packed engagements Shipping Adviser Brigadier General Dr M Sakhawat Hussain and Chittagong Port Authority’s Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman also spoke at the programme. Upon arrival here on Wednesday morning, the Chief Adviser first visited Chittagong Port and attended the programme at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT-5) premises. Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Energy Adviser Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Education Adviser CR Abrar, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present. After visiting the Chittagong Port, he went to the Chattogram Circuit House, where he unveiled the foundation stone of the Kalurghat Bridge over the Karnaphuli River. Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan also spoke at the unveiling ceremony. “It’s a historic bridge,” Prof Yunus said, expressing his satisfaction as the new journey began and it will be implemented in the next three years. The long-anticipated bridge is expected to greatly benefit residents on the river’s southern bank, including those in Boalkhali and Patiya upazilas. Officials will also brief the Chief Adviser on key urban challenges, including waterlogging in Chattogram City and traffic congestion on Hathazari Road from the Oxygen Intersection. In addition, Prof Yunus will hand over land documents for the Chattogram National Heart Foundation to the concerned authorities. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus began his visit to his home district of Chattogram on Wednesday morning for the first time since taking office, with a series of engagements planned during his roughly 12-hour stay. Professor Yunus, who left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:45 am, landed at Shah Amanat International Airport at 9:22 am, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. He will attend as the chief guest at the fifth convocation of Chittagong University (CU), where he will also deliver the convocation address, officials said. In recognition of his contributions, Chittagong University will confer upon him an honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) degree. A former faculty member of CU’s Economics Department and a Nobel Laureate, his return to the campus is being hailed as a historic moment. After the convocation, Professor Yunus will travel to his ancestral home in Bathua village of Shikarpur union, Hathazari upazila. CA's Press Secretary shares why Ctg port must be modernised   

Amid Ramadan, allegations have surfaced against certain traders for hoarding imported goods at Chittagong Port, allegedly to engineer an artificial crisis and inflate market prices. According to port officials, importers are using port yards as storage facilities by delaying goods release, creating an artificial crisis, while around 40,000 Full Container Load (FCL) containers remain in the port yard and off-docks. The Chittagong Port Authority recently announced that if these goods-laden containers are not cleared by March 9, a fourfold charge will be imposed. Coffee, cashew cultivation helping Bandarban farmers to line their pockets At present, they said, among the 40,089 containers located in various yards at Chittagong Port, 31,384 are FCL containers. These containers, carrying imported goods, were left in the port yard without clearance, leading to disruptions in the port’s normal operations, they said. Chaktai-Khatunganj Wholesalers Association General Secretary Ahsan Ullah Jahedi pointed to the limitations of Chittagong Port in handling goods clearance. He said that the increased volume of goods being moved during Ramadan has led to some delays and complications in the clearance process, causing the goods to pile up at the port. Not only at the port but also across 19 off-docks, imported FCL containers are piling up. Currently, these off-docks hold 8,700 imported and 8,300 export-bound containers. Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Secretary-General Ruhul Amin Sikder Biplob said, "Many importers are using Chittagong Port as a storage space, leaving their imported goods-laden containers there for 20 to 21 days. This is causing an accumulation of FCL containers at the port, leading to operational issues.” Dhaka’s shopping malls dazzle well ahead of Eid shopping frenzy “When importers attempt to clear their containers, they face container congestion and traffic jams, negatively impacting the port’s operations. Therefore, it is necessary to deliver the accumulated containers at Chittagong Port as soon as possible," he said. Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk told UNB that importers can keep goods-laden containers at the port yard for up to four days without charge. After this period, a 20-foot container incurs a fine of $6, while a 40-foot container incurs a fine of $12. This penalty increased to $24 and $48 per container, respectively, after the allowed period, he added. He said in light of the current situation, the Chittagong Port Authority has issued special instructions to clear imported goods and containers by March 9. If these instructions are not followed, from March 10 onwards, a fourfold charge will be applied to each container. The port authority has already sent letters regarding this to BGMEA and other port user organisations. Clifton Group Managing Director M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, an importer of garment products, blamed the customs authority’s manpower shortage for delays in container clearance. “The time-consuming clearance process is causing financial losses for us,” he said. Dhaka-Chattogram Highway turns deadlier; 152 lives lost in one year If the increased penalties are enforced, importers will have to pay $48 per day for a 20-feet container and $96 per day for a 40-feet container, further escalating costs, he said.

A ship, carrying 52,500 metric tonnes of wheat imported from Ukraine reached Chattogram, the first consignment of food grains imported under the interim government. Govt approves imports of wheat, fertilizer, LNG, and printing of school books The ship, ‘MV. Enjoy Prosperity’, anchored at Kutubdia, the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port on Thursday, said an official media release. The work of unloading the wheat will start soon after collecting samples and conducting physical tests of the wheat. Govt approves bulk imports of rice, wheat, sugar, LNG, fertiliser Of the wheat, 31,500 metric tonnes will be unloaded at Chittagong Port, while the remaining 21,000 metric tonnes will be unloaded at Mongla Port.

Leaders of several political parties have warned of street protests if the government moves forward with the plan to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal of Chittagong Port to foreign companies. Speaking at a protest rally organised by 'Desh Bachao, Bandar Bachao Andolan' in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday, they accused the government of conspiring to lease key national assets to foreign interests. The rally drew participation from leaders of various political organisations, including the Biplobi Workers Party, Gono Adhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, Gono Forum, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh LDP, and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh. Ctg port, airport to fully operate from today Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Biplobi Workers Party, criticised the ongoing activities concerning the Chittagong Port, saying that thousands of crores of taka are transacted daily through the New Mooring Container Terminal, generating significant revenue for the state. He alleged that there is a conspiracy to hand over control of this vital infrastructure to foreign entities. Issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the interim government’s shipping adviser, Saiful Haque demanded the suspension of any agreements with the Dubai-based company allegedly involved. He warned, "As an independent nation, we cannot hand over Chittagong Port to foreign companies. The government must prioritise national interest and the well-being of the people." Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Adhikar Parishad, expressed dismay that such discussions were even necessary following the mass uprising that led to the formation of the interim government. He called for local companies to continue managing the ports, stating, "Domestic companies are still operating the ports effectively—there is no need to bring in foreign firms, which would result in significant job losses." Other speakers also echoed similar sentiments. Syed Ehsanul Huda, Chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, warned that handing over Chittagong Port to foreign interests could lead to long-term economic and political consequences. He also criticised the perceived influence of foreign powers on the current government, particularly India. HC stays enlistment process of operators by Ctg Port Authority for 6 months Subrata Chowdhury, Co-Chairman of Gono Forum, pointed out that both the High Court and Appellate Division have previously ruled against leasing Chittagong Port to foreign companies. He also mentioned that Mongla Port faces similar threats. Mujibur Rahman Manju, Member Secretary of the AB Party, stressed the port's importance as a national asset, urging the government to focus on improving local capabilities instead of outsourcing operations. "If we lack the skills, we must develop them. Thousands of jobs will be at risk if foreign companies take control," he said. Shahadat Hossain Salim, General Secretary of Bangladesh LDP, called on the shipping adviser and the Chittagong Port Authority to stop any further talks of foreign leasing, adding that such actions would not be tolerated by the people.    

An eight-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the fire in two ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at Kutubdia point of the Bay of Bengal that occurred early Sunday, officials said. The Chittagong Port Authority formed the committee following the directive of Shipping and Textiles Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain. Commodore M Fazlar Rahman, a member of the Chittagong Port Authority (Harbor and Marine), will lead the investigation committee. Other members are Captain Md Faridul Alam, Deputy Conservator at Chittagong Port; Navy Commander Rafiqul Islam; Coast Guard Lt Commander Md Rakibul Islam Tanveer; Lt Md Noor Ashraful Aziz from DGFI; a designated representative from NSI; a designated representative from the Fire Service & Civil Defence; and Captain Sayed Ahmed, Controller of the Maritime Education (CC) Directorate of Shipping in Chittagong. 31 rescued after fire breaks out on LNG-carrying vessel off Ctg port The committee has been tasked to submit its report within the next five working days. Its objectives include determining the cause of the fire in MT Captain Nicholas and B-LPG Sofia, assessing the international standards for LPG transportation, assessing the suitability of the transported LPG, determining damages and liability arising from the incident, and formulating recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future. The committee may also review any related matters and submit its findings. Earlier, the "B-LPG Sofia" lighter vessel caught fire after an explosion when it was at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port around 1am. Later, members of the Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy rescued 31 people from the vessel. The Shipping Adviser has expressed deep concern over the recent incidents of fires on ships and has instructed authorities to enhance security measures for vessels, emphasizing the need for maximum.

Members of Coast Guard (CG) and Bangladesh Navy rescued 31 people from a lighter vessel that caught fire at Kutubdia Point in the Bay of Bengal early Sunday, said authorities. Lieutenant Shakib Mehbub, an official of the east zone of the CG in Kutubdia, confirmed the matter saying that crews and other staffs of the vessel jumped off the vessel in the sea after it caught fire around 1am. Later, the floating crew and others were rescued, he said. Read: Kalurghat Bridge struck by lighter vessel carried by strong current in Karnaphuli Earlier, the anchored vessel carrying Liquefied National Gas (LNG) caught fire following an explosion at Kutubdia Point. Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, acting Kutubdia upazila nirbahi officer, said that they informed the higher authorities, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard. Read more: Lighter vessel carrying goods sinks in Ctg’s Karnaphuli River Locals said the ‘B-LPG Sofia’ vessel caught fire with a big bang when it was at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port around 1am.

As the effects of Cyclone Mocha have passed, regular flights are starting at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport this morning (May 15, 2023). Director of the Airport, Group Captain Taslim Ahmed, said regular flights will depart from Shah Amanat International Airport from today. Earlier, due to inclement weather caused by Cyclone Mocha, the authority suspended flights at Shah Amanat International Airport from 6 am on May 13 after Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued the No. 8 disaster signal in Chattogram. Read More: Scanners to be installed soon at Ctg port gates: State Minister Meanwhile, all activities of Chattogram port were suspended since May 12 night due to fear of damage from Cyclone Mocha. Ships were being brought back to the jetty and outer anchor early today.   The Meteorological Department has asked Chattogram port to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 after the impact of Cyclone Mocha has passed. After the situation became normal, the Chittagong Port Authority decided to withdraw its alert-4 and normalise the port operations. The port will be fully operational from this morning, said Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Md. Omar Farouk. Read More: Bay Terminal Project: Deal signed with 2 South Korean companies to prepare final design

The Chittagong Port authorities on Monday suspended loading and unloading of containers fearing possible damages due to the approaching cyclone Sitrang. The authorities issued Alert No 3 for the port. “All the ships of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) have been sent to the outer anchorage. Besides, lighter vessels have also been removed from the channel and shifted to Shah Amanat Bridge area. Loading and unloading of goods and containers are currently suspended, while large ships have been sent to the deep sea” said Md Omar Faruq, Secretary of Chittagong Port Authority. Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Everything you need to know A control room has also been opened, he said. The met office has hoisted cautionary signal no 6 in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar ports and signal no 7 in Mongla and Payra ports. The wind is blowing at a speed of 62kph within 54km of the cyclone center, which has the possibility of reaching 88kph when the cyclone reaches its peak. Read Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat

The work on installing scanners at every gate of Chittagong port is underway for easing import-export activities, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday. The scanner installation work is also underway at all land ports, including Mongla, he said while visiting the new mooring container terminal at Chittagong Port. The state minister said Chittagong Port is being further upgraded. Patenga Container Terminal and Overflow Yard have been constructed. Read: Hasina offers Ctg port for use by India’s north-eastern states Chittagong port is ready to handle the pressure of more ships, he added. Besides, according to the agreement with India, Indian ships can use Chittagong port and from there goods can be transported to north-eastern states of India by road, said Khalid. And so, the trial runs of Indian ships have been conducted at this port and more will be done, he added. Indian ships will start using this port regularly after the ‘Statutory Regulatory Order’ from the National Board of Revenue (NRB), he added.