WE know of the turnaround time at Chittagong Port gradually relapsing into the old timeframe of nearly double digit days which basically increases the cost of business and reflects on the lack of competitiveness of the port. This has brought to the fore the whole issue of erratic trade unionism with links to political parties. The situation calls for an intervention by the government on an overall basis which hopefully should be getting underway before things go out of hand.

As if the gradual return of longer handling time was not enough of a predicament, a fresh jolt has been administered by dockworkers as they resisted container handling by a private berth operating company. They even assaulted 15 company workers dubbing them as 'outsiders'. The reason why they did so is all too known to those who have been following the affairs of Ctg port for any stretch of time. The workers wouldn't simply allow any private sector container handling operation with modern equipment that has no place for them. Whenever it is attempted they come out with protests demanding an inclusive recruitment policy as against any retrenchment.

The port authorities having signed up with six private companies to handle containers at six general cargo berths and issued work order to one, workers led by the Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation have threatened to go on a movement to press home their demands including absorption of preexisting employees, placed under scrutiny, which has raised the possibility of retrenchment.

Chittagong port is an expanding infrastructure and its cargo handling has massively increased over time and is poised to multiply further needing both skilled manpower and latest technology. And if this is viewed in the context of the deep sea port that is envisioned, there is no denying the stupendous challenge our port authorities, workers, jetty supervisors and stevedore companies face in terms of raising their standards of efficiency to an acceptable level. In fact, there is no scope for carrying the past baggage or squandering time and energy on petty squabbles. We must broaden our horizon and think and live with the times. Such messages should be dinned into the ears of all concerned and they must be oriented to meeting the tasks ahead.