Customs seeks explanations from BM Container

Custom House Chattogram has served a notice to BM Container Depot asking why its private bonded warehouse licence should not be cancelled following the recent deadly explosions and fire inside it.

The incident inside the inland container depot (ICD), a Dutch-Bangladesh joint venture in Sitakunda, 20 miles north of the country's main port in Chattogram, on the night of June 4 left at least 51 people dead and 250 others injured.

The notice was served to the depot's managing director on September 15 after a customs probe committee submitted a report that spoke of six specific reasons for the deadly blasts.

The ICD has already started running operations partially from August 29.

After repeated appeals from the ICD authority, Custom House Chattogram on August 22 gave the permission for partially running operations on two conditions, sources said.

The notice sought a written explanation in 30 days on the alleged violation of rules of an off-dock installation and operation policy and a private ICD policy, and negligence in the discharging of duties.

The probe report said no standard of the United Nations were followed in storing jerrycans containing hydrogen peroxide of export-oriented Al-Razi Chemical Complex inside the ICD.

The ICD and Al-Razi Chemical Complex belong to the same owners.

The ICD authority did not inform customs about delays in the shipment of the huge amount of chemicals after assessment, the report said.

The ICD did not follow rules of The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code in handling and storing goods such as hydrogen peroxide.

In addition, the ICD authority did not properly inform fire service officials of the fire originating from chemicals.

Also, there was no fire hydrant system inside and the authority did not take any steps to ensure fire safety tools, it said.

The ICD authority also failed to meet all conditions of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence over extinguishing fires.

The ICD authority had no primary medical treatment facilities or ambulance service and had not taken any precautionary measures as per The International Ship and Port Facilities Code, the report added.

The notice also warned of punitive measures if there was no reply within the deadline as per the customs act.

Mohammad Faijur Rahman, customs commissioner Chattogram, signed the notice, forwarding copies to the National Board of Revenue chairman, Chattogram Port Authority chairman and joint commissioner of customs (off-dock) of Custom House Chattogram.

 "We have received the copy and we will submit our answers within the time," the depot's director, Mujibur Rahman, told The Daily Star.

Earlier, the cabinet division issued letters to ministries and departments concerned asking them to take steps based on 20 recommendations of a probe committee formed by the divisional commissioner's office on July 25.

That committee submitted another report on July 6.

The report found sheer negligence on behalf of the depot owners, lax monitoring and enforcement of laws by government authorities.