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Concern over fresh unrest in Ctg port

Installation of proposed container terminal

NURUL ALAM, Chittagong
Business people and officials are concerned over the fresh unrest whipped up at Chittagong port, the main seaport of the country, centring the installation of proposed container port here by the American company Stevedoring Services of America (SSA).
"We are really worried again with the announcement of fresh agitations by the 22 trade union organisatoins of Chittagong port opposing the government move for allowing the installation of proposed container terminal by SSA", Farid Ahmed Chowdhury, President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), told this correspondent.
"We seek intervention of the Prime Minister and we are going to appeal to her in black and white soon for taking steps in this regard, Farid said., Farid said. We feel threatened to run economic activities through this premier port following unrest over SSA issue." "Such an unrest will definitely cause dislocation in economic activities of the country," CCCI president added. The 22 trade union bodies last week enforced four and a half-hour strike at Chittagong port and staged demonstration on April 28 hampering port activities. They also announced an 8-hour strike on May 6 at the port.
"We will enforce strike for an indefinite period at Chittagong port if any agreement is signed by the government with SSA", Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, president of port CBA and convener of 22 trade union bodies said.
Replying to a question CCCI president Farid said Chittagong Chamber had always taken stand against the installation of the proposed container terminal by SSA . "If SSA is allowed to set up a container terminal at the estuary of the river Karnaphuli, Chittagong port may turn into a simple 'fish harbour' as the river direction and wave may change", CCCI president said.
"Whether private or government, nobody should be allowed to install a container terminal at the river mouth of Karnaphuli as it may block the channel of Chittagong port causing navigational problems due to siltation", Farid said.
The studies required before allowing SSA, were not done at all by the experts, he said.
He said if SSA is allowed to install a terminal at the estuary of the Karnaphuli river, it would not only hamper interests of Chittagong port, rather it would threaten security of
the country in addition to causing defence problems in case of war or any conflict.
"But I wonder why the ruling party is playing double roles by taking up the process in favour of SSA now as it enforced hartal in the country and launched movement opposing the proposal while it was in the opposition," Farid said.
He also blamed the immediate past government for taking the move for unknown reason.
CCCI President urged the government to develop Chittagong port through expansion programmes to handle the growing traffic instead of allowing SSA.
"The capacity of Chittagong port can easily be raised by installing New Mooring container terminals and procuring more equipment", he said adding that "we don't need foreign investors for container installation which we can do on our
own."
Mahfuz said, "no feasibility study was carried out by the government to allow installation of a container port at the river mouth." "Chittagong port will be destroyed if the container port is allowed at the entry point of the channel", he added.
"If the New Mooring container terminals are constructed at Chittagong port and three jetties from jetty No. 11 are turned into container yards with the procurement of necessary equipment, this
premier port can handle 44 lakh containers a year," Mahfuz said.
The proposed container port of SSA has the capacity to handle three lakh containers yearly while Chittagong port can now handle five lakh, port sources said.
Minister for Port and Shipping Akbar Hossain told this correspondent during his visit here recently that "the process in this regard will be fully transparent".
"Without proper study we won't allow anybody to set up a container terminal here," he said.
"Besides, whoever is allowed to set up a container terminal here, the interests of Chittagong port will surely be protected and looked into carefully," the minister said.
Deputy Managing Director of SSA (Bangladesh) Ashfaq Jamil said transparency was maintained in document negotiation and other process with the government.
Ashfaq dismissed the possibility of destruction of Chittagong port. Chittagong port would rather earn Tk 100 crore from SSA port yearly against port dues, he added.
Moreover, jobs of 4,000 workers will be generated in this port if installed, Ashfaq said. Replying to a question he said, "we will dredge up if there is any silt-ation".
Some vested quarters were influencing the port's labour leaders
with money for agitations against SSA, he said.
But the labour leaders of Chittagong port refuted the allegation saying that the SSA is trying to manipulate the whole process to get permission from Bangladesh government through corrupt practices.
Ashfaq said already 162 acres of land were acquired out of 200 acres required for installation of the port at Patenga.
"Process is on to acquire the rest and we are expecting to start the construction works by the end of this year and to complete it by the year 2007 at a cost of 250 million US dollars". "Actually it was supposed to be started in the year 1999 for commissioning in the year 2002," he said.
Meanwhile, Chittagong port sources said that process was already finalised to set up New Mooring container terminal
expected to be completed by the year 2006 to handle five lakh containers as per Chittagong port's expansion programmes.
Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Commodore Golam Rabbani said the 1000-meter container terminal project at New Mooring would cost Tk. 750 crore.
"By the end of this year we hope to begin the construction works of the New Mooring container terminal," Commodore Rabbani said.