The licenses of 23 ship-handling operators who received permits without following the correct tender procedures have been canceled by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA). At a news conference last week, Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman declared that their licenses had been revoked. According to reports, a number of MPs, ministers, and political figures from the former Awami League government own or are connected to the operators, who were given licenses in April of last year.
Shalutikar Associates, Bismillah Marine Services, NMT-MSN Limited, GD Harbour Services, Ahmed Maritime Logistics, Shahi Shipping and Trading, Maa Trading, S Trading, Taiful Enterprise, QNS Global Logistics Limited, MS Ocean Contracting and Supplying Firm, Gafur Brothers and Co, SS Consulting Limited, AB Corporation, Arian Traders Limited, Brigex Infraxar Limited, Good Alliance Services Limited, RK Corporation, Care Shipping and Freight Limited, KAS Trading, and Khulna Union Enterprise Limited make up the operators.
During the news conference, the chairman of the Port Authority stated that strict procedures had been implemented to combat corruption and anomalies in every area. “Efforts to dismantle all forms of syndicates and monopolies at Chattogram port are being intensified to ensure a fair business environment.” According to him, port users are already benefiting from a 25% decrease in transportation expenses at the port as a result of the successful dismantling of syndicates.
According to Moniruzzaman, effective steps have been made to stop unauthorized use of port land, cancel unauthorized licenses, and deal with corruption and irregularities in all their forms. He stated that efforts to settle pending land-related issues in several courts are being stepped up. “In the past, Singapore and Colombo ports were used for the import and export of goods between Bangladesh and Pakistan,” stated the head of the Port Authority. A container ship carrying imported commodities arrived at the Chattogram port on November 11 from Jebel Ali Port in Dubai via Karachi Port in Pakistan. The launch of this new route has given Bangladesh’s import-export business additional opportunities.
According to him, the new route will boost trade between the two nations by cutting prices and transit times. According to the chairman of the Port Authority, Chattogram Port handled 830,582 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers in the last three months, which is 76,986 more than it did the previous year. According to him, the port’s revenue for the first four months of fiscal year 2024–25 was Tk1,643.85 crore, which represents a 21.85% rise over the same period in the previous fiscal year. According to Moniruzzaman, there were 45,500 containers in storage at Chattogram port as of July 16. Over the last three months, this has been lowered to 34,000 by methodical innovations. The typical wait time for ships has dropped from six to eight days to one day.
