ACC Public Hearing: Ctg port users complain of irregularities
Users of Chattogram Port yesterday alleged that a section of port officials, employees and equipment operators were taking bribes, harassing them and wasting time.
Speaking at a public hearing at the auditorium of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), they also complained that irregularities are committed during the delivery of goods and containers from the port, and also during loading, unloading and transfer of goods and containers inside the port.
The port users said the irregularities were reducing the efficiency of the port.
A total of 52 complaints were raised at the meeting. The complaints include delaying discharge of consignments by staffers of the One Stop Service Centre, storing import containers at yards not assigned for those, delaying transfer of containers inside the port by crane operators and damage of goods caused by equipment operators if not bribed.
The public hearing, first of its kind at the port, was jointly orgainsed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and Corruption Prevention Committee, Chattogram, with support from the Chattogram divisional and district administrations.
Only 16 out of the 52 accusers were present at the three and-a-half-hour long public hearing that began at 10:00am. Chattogram Divisional Additional Commissioner Nurul Alam Nizami, the moderator of the programme, read out rest of the written complaints.
Talking about their complaints, several clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents said some crane operators and staffers cause unnecessary delay in finding containers at the yards and transporting those inside the port unless they are bribed Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 for each container.
Shahed Sarwar, director of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, complained about long delay in auctioning off the undelivered import containers by the customs authorities. He said such delay in the process was tarnishing image of the port authorities.
ACC Commissioner (investigation) AFM Aminul Islam, also the chief guest at the programme, directed the CPA chairman to investigate the allegations and submit reports to the graft watchdog within a stipulated time.
He stressed the need for strong monitoring of the activities of the field-level officials and employees.
CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqur Aziz said services of the port have improved over the last few years due to several steps taken by them.
He assured the port users of resolving the prevailing problems.
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