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Port still in stalemate as foreign operators stick to their stance

RAFIQ HASAN
A shipping ministry move to resolve the deadlock at Chittagong Port fell apart yesterday as foreign feeder vessel operators and main line operators (MLOs) refused to resume operation unless the flag rule was changed.
The minister hurriedly called a meeting with the representatives of some MLOs and foreign feeder vessel operators at his office and urged them to resume operation immediately.
Later, the ministry sent a proposal to the cabinet that was meeting in the evening to amend the Bangladesh Flag (Protection) Ordinance, 1982.
But as the major foreign feeder vessels refrained from loading goods at the port yesterday for the third consecutive day, containers
piled up.
"The main change to the ordinance would be to exclude container vessels from the purview of the law," said Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain. He said the MLOs assured him that they would resume operation if the ordinance did not apply to container vessels.
Under the ordinance, foreign vessels before loading or unloading have to take waiver certificates from the Principal Office of Mercantile Marine Department, which verifies that there are no local vessels available at the port.
Akbar said to scrap the ordinance it needs approval of parliament.
"Our only demand is to repeal the law," said Jamaluddin Quader Chowdhury, managing director of QC Container Line Limited, after the meeting with the ministry.
"We would wait for the cabinet decision and then decide our future course of action," Jamal told The Daily Star.
Around 10 representatives of MLOs and members of the Chittagong Feeder Trade Committee (CFTC) attended the meeting. They include APL, Hunjin, P&O Nedlloyd, K-Line, PIL, Sea Consortium, Gold Star, Hapagloyed, KMTC, MOSK, United Arab Shipping and QC Container Line Limited.
The minister admitted that it was really difficult for a foreign vessel operator to get a waiver certificate before making a call at the port.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Oceangoing Ship Owners Association (BOGSOA) Sayeed Hossain Chowdhury refuted the allegation of deadlock at the port.
He said only a few MLOs and CFTC members have been refraining from loading goods to create an artificial crisis. The situation would be normal very soon, Sayeed said.