Task force to expedite activities At Ctg Port

CHITTAGONG, Jan 6: A high powered task force has been formed by the government to expedite the activities at Chittagong port in view of the growing load of cargo.

The task force was formed on January 2 in Dhaka with SA Samad, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, as its convenor, official sources said.

There were frequent dislocations in cargo handling and repeated congestion at the port.

The task force was assigned to identify major problems at the port suggest short and long term measures to solve those and monitor implementation of the measures.

Representatives from Shipping Ministry, port users forum, Chittagong port, federation of chamber bodies and other related bodies were included in the task force.

Meanwhile, the 'turn around period' for ships calling at Chittagong port went up recently as severe congestion gripped it again. The waiting time for ships at the port has now crossed eight days on an average as against 3 to 4 days one month ago, port sources said.

They attributed this to frequent hartal programmes, labour unrest and shortage of equipment at the port.

About 50 ships are now anchored at the outer anchorage and jetties of the port.

Port officials feared that the congestion might increase due to suspension of port activities during the Eid holidays.