For the first time in the country, authorities are planning to introduce an ‘electronic seal and lock’ system to track container and stop pilferage. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has given permission to Alif Corporation, a private company, to introduce the new system on containers moving from Chittagong Port and Inland Container Terminals areas of the port city, sources in the Finance Ministry and NBR said. A bilateral agreement will be signed among organisations, including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Alif Corporation soon, the sources added. The World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Customs Organisation (WCO), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Commission have advised the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, NBR and the Shipping Ministry, to introduce the new system. After the system is introduced, the businessmen will have to pay a service charge to the company. The new technology will be introduced on a pilot basis to and from Chittagong Port and inland container terminals known as off-docks, where products to be exported are stuffed in containers for shipment and imported goods are released after customs clearance, located within Chittagong city. According to NBR, the Alif Corporation will run the system for a year on pilot basis and then it will decide on continuation of the arrangement based on the corporation’s performance. A majority of export products, mostly readymade garments, are stuffed in containers at off-docks for shipment, and 39 import items are released at off-docks. There are now 15 off-docks in the country. Ahmed, Manager of Alif Corporation Borhan Uddin, told The Independent that they will soon sign a bilateral agreement with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), BGMEA and BKMEA to introduce the new system. “The electronic seal and lock system will act as preventive measures against pilferage, smuggling and sabotage of cargo within containers and trailers en route to their destination,” he said. “If either type of seal is found to be broken or if its identification (ID) number is different from the one on the cargo document, it’s an indication that the container or trailer door might have been opened by an unauthorised person at some point in the transportation route. The unique ID numbers on both electronic seal and lock provide tracking information,” he added. “We are assuring that the container pilferage would be stopped if the new system is introduced,” he stated. Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President of FBCCI, confirmed to The Independent that they wish to introduce the electronic seal and lock system in the country to stop container pilferage. “The national loss would be stopped if the new system is introduced,” he said. “We are reassessing the proposal submitted by the company concerned and it will be finalised at the next board meeting of FBCCI,” he added. “After receiving the proposal from the company concerned, we requested them to reduce the charge so more businessmen can take advantage of the new system,” the FBCCI chief informed. Sources in the home ministry informed that the ministry asked the law enforcement agencies, including police headquarters, to take necessary steps to stop pilferage from containers on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and also inside the Chittagong port, in keeping with requests from different business organisations, especially BGMEA and BKMEA. Several organised gangs are involved in stealing readymade garments from containers through a special technique on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway and in Chittagong port. According to the sources, the gangs usually commit the crime when a container-carrying vehicle is halted on the highway due to traffic congestion and when containers are stored inside Chittagong port for placing aboard cargo ships. As a result, buyers find goods missing from cartons during inspection only after the shipments reach their end, resulting in exporters facing difficulties in obtaining final payment.
