Chattogram port operations will continue despite countrywide lock down for a period of ten days due to the Corona epidemic, port authority officials said. From March 29 to 3 April, the government has announced a one-week public holiday. But virtually, the holiday would start from Independence Day- March 26. Besides the government has decided to shutdown all shopping malls and markets except kitchen markets and medicine stores and suspended passengers transport through rail, road and river routes.
In such unprecedented circumstance, there is no restriction on the transport of goods. At the same time, it has been decided to continue the normal activities of Chattogram Port. Commodore M Shafiul Bari, Member (Harbor Marine) of the exucative board of the port authority said the decision was taken to keep the loading and unloading normal despite the country-wide shutdown.
Referring to the global situation, he informed, “Two main connecting port of Chattogram Port, the Singapore Port in Singapore and Colombo Port of Sri Lanka are operating normallydespite scare of coronavirus pandemic, which hampers all kinds of activities in human life around the world.”
“There is no chance to stop the port activities, if we shutdown the port the ongoing crisis will become deeper. In whole world no country has not stopped the port activities, he added. Chittagong Port Authoritysources said the ships’ arrivals to the country are OK even after the outbreak of the coronavirus in China last January, but the quantity of goods had dropped slightly.
On Tuesday there were 49 ships in outer anchorage of Ctg port, 16 ships are in jetties inside the Karnphuli river. After the outbreak of coronavirus in China, 24,57015 tonnes of goods were imported and exported through Chittagong port in January. In February this was 2078913 tonnes.
In order to maintain normalcy of the port, the customs department, banks, private container terminals, transport sector and some other public-private offices have to continue their activities. Commodore M Shafiul Bari said, all measures have been taken to keep the operational activities of the port normal.
Source said, in order to keep the operation of CPA normal, the manpower not concerned to operation will be discharged while the necessary officers and employees will continue to work.. FaridulAlam, Commissioner of Chattogram Custom House, told to deal emergency export and import in the port it will be necessary to keep open the custom activities partially.
But as the total activities of government departments will be stopped, then it would require instructions from National Board of Revenue (NBR), he added. Port and Customs sources said that necessary protection is being ensured for the officers and employees as per the directives of the government's health department and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The authorities have supplied enough masks and gloves and ensured other protective matters in order to prevent coronavirus infection among the employees. The leaders of business community feel keeping the port open is important for economic activities of the country.
All countries in the world are trying to continue shipment of goods in this crisis, said MahabubulAlam, President of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and industries.
Source said, import through Chattogram port has reducedby 17 percent and export reduced only 5 percent. Nasir Uddin, Ex Vice President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association BGMEA, said ports should be open in any circumstances. Already a significant quantity of raw materials of the industries is on the way. If ports will remain closed shipment of goods can not be made. Beside these, some consignment of exportsareready for shipment, he added. Another source said, if the countries where the garments are exported do not accept the products, then there will be an additional crisis.
