A total of 23 companies have been given new licenses as ship handling operators of Chattogram Port.
It was decided to give license to these institutions in the board meeting of the port on Thursday. Ship handling operators work to unload goods from large ships at open anchor. However, the port authority has not disclosed the list of those who have received the license.
Chairman of the organization AKM Shamsuzzaman Russel said in a statement sent to the media recently that the Chattogram Port Authority has irregularly and tendered without following the regulations of the Regulations for Working of Chattogram Port (Cargo and Container) 2001 for the handling of domestic and foreign ships arriving at Kutubdia outer anchorage and other specialized jetties. Except new ship handling operators intending to enlist.
Where many companies have failed to register as ship handling operators despite being experienced and skilled in the operations of Chattogram port for a long time. There it is highly unreasonable and illegal to enlist and appoint ship handling operators without tender for work at Kutubdia, outer anchorage and other specialized jetties. They claimed that there is a suspension order of the High Court in this regard. The instructions in this regard were taken to the port authorities but they did not receive it on Thursday. According to Chattogram port sources, it has been decided to give license to 23 companies. But they cannot redeem the product right away. They have to be registered first for product redemption. They will get the opportunity to redeem the product only after being registered.
Six to six and a half million tons of goods are unloaded annually from large ships at outer anchorage. Currently 32 organizations are engaged in product redemption. Out of these five companies redeem their own imported products. The remaining 27 institutions are engaged in clearing the goods of various importers. The port authority claims that no new ship handling operator license has been issued in the last 40 years. Imports of goods increased six times during this long period. New licenses are issued to increase competition.
