Unloading of goods at Ctg Port jetties halted due to rough seas

Unloading of goods from larger ships at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port remains suspended due to rough seas since Friday, while trade at the Khatunganj-Chaktai wholesale hub has dropped significantly.

Most of the low-lying areas in the city and several upazilas of Chattogram have gone underwater due to heavy rain over the last three days.

Unloading of goods from bulk carriers at the jetties and delivery of goods have slowed down considerably due to the persistent rain.

This has resulted in at least 25 cargo vessels, carrying over 800,000 tonnes of goods, being stranded at the outer anchorage. Wheat, raw sugar, soybean oil, fertilizers, and industrial raw materials are among the goods.

But none of the lighter vessels could reach the anchorage due to rough seas, said a WTC official, adding that this disruption could damage goods.

Due to disruption in unloading at outer anchorage, vessels have to stay longer.

Meanwhile, the situation at the Khatunganj-Chaktai market, one of Bangladesh’s largest wholesale hubs for household essentials, has worsened as rainwater and tidal water inundated most areas, resulting in a 50-60 per cent fall in trade activities. Many low-lying areas are still waterlogged as it has been raining heavily over the last three days.

The Chattogram Development Authority, which is implementing a Tk 11,344 crore mega project to mitigate waterlogging, had said before the monsoon that this year’s inundation would be less than that of previous years due to the digging of many canals to mitigate the problem.

The city dwellers alleged that CDA gave them false hope, while CDA blamed the CCC for the waterlogging. Port City Chattogram has become the textbook example of uncoordinated government efforts of infrastructural development without considering geography and demography.

People’s participation is the cornerstone of the modern development concept, however, the government policy is excluding people and including businessmen in project initiation to implementation ultimately back-fires the development.