112 major incidents in 4 years
Pilferage in Ctg Port increases alarmingly
Chittagong Bureau :
The pilferage of imported commodities in Chittagong Port restricted areas has become rampant in the recent times causing concern among the port users.
In last 4 years, such 112 incidents of pilferage occurred, sources said. None including port, customs, importers ,C&F agents is agreed to take responsibility of the pilferage.
The business community of the port city are annoyed over the frequent pilferage of imported commodities despite tough security measures of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
In the meantime, top trade body of the port city urged upon the Port chairman to undertake stern measures to stop the pilferage from the restricted areas of CP, reliable sources said.
It is learnt that there are 10 security entry and exit gates in the Port.
Concerned sources said 5-6 scanners are installed in each exit gat and can easily scan the cargo laden containers and covered vans. Moreover, every security gate brought under 126 CCTV cameras.
Beside the port security, additional armed forces members and Ansars have been deployed in the restricted areas of the port. A port user sources said about 130 armed force members, 170 police force and 522 ansars are assigned with the port security since 1999.Even then, 18 incidents of pilferage occurred in port within last 9 months since January. Besides, such incidents of pilferage occurred 30 in 2013, 37 in 2012, 27 in 2011.
A responsible former BGMEA first vice President on condition of anonymity told that the security management of CP broken and regularly imported consignment of millions of takas are being pilfering from restricted areas. Vice President of CMCCI AM Mahbub Chowdhury told that some dishonest port workers are indirectly involved with these pilferage incidents which was informed to CPA earlier several times. He also said govt is getting minimum of Tk.1200 cr as revenue from CP in every year but the security measures are not strengthened in last 4 decades.
Port sources said importers in connivance with the C&F agents are directly or indirectly involved with these pilferage incidents and there is no scope to bring out any imported consignment from the restricted areas without the involvement of importers and C&F agents.
A sources of C&F agents association told the New Nation that Port security is responsible to watch and preservation of imported cargos and the C&F agents clear the consignment from port shed as convenient of the importers but after the physical inventory of the containers, the pilferage matters are traced and the shortage of commodities inside the containers detect where C&F agents had nothing to do. Despite deployment of members from DGFI, NSI and other law enforcers including port security men, the pilferage of consignment from restricted areas are not stopped.
Port users sources said all imported containers should be screened immediate after arrival in port from abroad. Meanwhile out of total incidents of pilferage in last 4 years, a number of imported containers were found filled in sand, coal or waste papers but the importers were not compensated or concerned authority did not take any responsibility of such pilferage from port shed .
The pilferage of imported commodities in Chittagong Port restricted areas has become rampant in the recent times causing concern among the port users.
In last 4 years, such 112 incidents of pilferage occurred, sources said. None including port, customs, importers ,C&F agents is agreed to take responsibility of the pilferage.
The business community of the port city are annoyed over the frequent pilferage of imported commodities despite tough security measures of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).
In the meantime, top trade body of the port city urged upon the Port chairman to undertake stern measures to stop the pilferage from the restricted areas of CP, reliable sources said.
It is learnt that there are 10 security entry and exit gates in the Port.
Concerned sources said 5-6 scanners are installed in each exit gat and can easily scan the cargo laden containers and covered vans. Moreover, every security gate brought under 126 CCTV cameras.
Beside the port security, additional armed forces members and Ansars have been deployed in the restricted areas of the port. A port user sources said about 130 armed force members, 170 police force and 522 ansars are assigned with the port security since 1999.Even then, 18 incidents of pilferage occurred in port within last 9 months since January. Besides, such incidents of pilferage occurred 30 in 2013, 37 in 2012, 27 in 2011.
A responsible former BGMEA first vice President on condition of anonymity told that the security management of CP broken and regularly imported consignment of millions of takas are being pilfering from restricted areas. Vice President of CMCCI AM Mahbub Chowdhury told that some dishonest port workers are indirectly involved with these pilferage incidents which was informed to CPA earlier several times. He also said govt is getting minimum of Tk.1200 cr as revenue from CP in every year but the security measures are not strengthened in last 4 decades.
Port sources said importers in connivance with the C&F agents are directly or indirectly involved with these pilferage incidents and there is no scope to bring out any imported consignment from the restricted areas without the involvement of importers and C&F agents.
A sources of C&F agents association told the New Nation that Port security is responsible to watch and preservation of imported cargos and the C&F agents clear the consignment from port shed as convenient of the importers but after the physical inventory of the containers, the pilferage matters are traced and the shortage of commodities inside the containers detect where C&F agents had nothing to do. Despite deployment of members from DGFI, NSI and other law enforcers including port security men, the pilferage of consignment from restricted areas are not stopped.
Port users sources said all imported containers should be screened immediate after arrival in port from abroad. Meanwhile out of total incidents of pilferage in last 4 years, a number of imported containers were found filled in sand, coal or waste papers but the importers were not compensated or concerned authority did not take any responsibility of such pilferage from port shed .
