Chittagong port security at risk
Port is a public
property and the government must ensure its
protection and lawful usage
An illegally constructed 20 feet wide gate has posed not only security threat but also massive possibility of smuggling into the Chittagong ports protected area for at least the last three years. Firstly, the gate located some 500 metres south-west of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) is built illegally by violating Sections 9 and 10 of the Customs Act 1969. Secondly, the mysterious gate is not monitored by any assistant commissioner of customs aided by CC TV, camera and arms detecting equipments as it should have been as per port and customs law , and third and most importantly , the gate poses huge security threat as it is being mysteriously used by unknown quarters for unverified items without customs clearance.
The questions are, however many why and how could this gate be built under the nose of port and customs authority some three years ago. Who has authorized the construction of this highly questionable gate in the countrys premier port?
Any sea port is built and functioned as a highly protected area and the CHT port authority cannot allow such puzzling construction under any circumstances. During the time of investigation port authorities not only failed to provide a convincing explanation over the construction of the gate but also disapprovingly explained its viability.
The highly intimidating possibility is - the security and proper use of the port by following port law is somehow being compromised. Can anyone confirm if the gate is not being used for smuggling drugs or lethal weapons as it is virtually unmanned without any security check posts?
We not only call for a logical explanation from the CTG port authority, but want to know the actual reason behind the gates construction. If the reason is not anyhow explained rationally, concerned law enforcement authorities must immediately take action while pinpointing the officials involved in the construction and usage of the gate. To make things even clearer, the accused parties in this case is not one but two who had built it and for whom is it built. It has long been rumoured that the CTG port at times been controlled by a joint syndicate of port officials and a group of unethical and also unidentified businessmen. We want our major port free from this alleged sleaze.
Nevertheless, the point is the port authorities not only in Bangladesh but anywhere around the world cannot have any gate beyond the jurisdiction of the customs authorities. We draw immediate attention of the high-ups of our law enforcement agencies in this regard. Port is a public property and the government must ensure its protection and lawful usage.
