The Bangladesh government on Tuesday decided to keep the Chittagong Sea Port operational for 24 hours a day, and seven days a week from next month onwards. The news has finally given ready-made garment exporters of the country something to cheer about.
According to a press release issued by the Shipping Ministry of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the 24×7 services at the country’s largest sea port on August 1. The Chittagong Port is responsible for handling 90 per cent of the country’s total exports and has been facing severe vessel congestion since the last two months. This reportedly led to losses to the importers and exporters, especially the garment exporters.
Bangladesh has three sea ports, of which only the Chittagong Port is equipped with the necessary infrastructures to handle bulk import and export activities. It may be mentioned here that several officials and port users have reportedly complained that the lack of infrastructural facilities including the shortage of jetties, inadequate space of terminals and two damaged grantee cranes along with increasing number of bulk cargoes and containers behind this gridlock at the port.
The move of running the port round the clock is aimed at easing the export- and import-related activities. The apparel exporters have expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister following her Government’s decision to keep the port operational 24×7.
“It’s an amazing step taken by our honourable PM. We’ve repeatedly been trying to draw her attention to the existing scenario… The concerned authorities now need to run the port effectively,” maintained Md. Ferdous, Vice President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
