Concentrated efforts of all, including the authorities of Chittagong and Mongla ports and the ministries concerned, are needed to make the seaports more dynamic by resolving their various problems, according to a performance audit report.It says labour issues, lack of skilled manpower and specialized machinery have been hampering the smooth functioning of the country’s major seaports.”But, there has been no mentionable initiative to resolve these issues. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) must take programmes in this regard as this possible to solve these problems by bringing necessary changes in internal audit and monitoring system,” the report mentions.The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh conducted the performance audit report on the factors which have impacts on the operation of Chittagong and Mongla ports from fiscal year 2005-2006 to 2009-2010.According to the report, the interventions of higher authorities for the reforms of those sectors which are beyond the control of Chittagong Port Authority and concerted efforts of all, including the Shipping Ministry, the Public Administration Ministry and the Tariff Authority are required in this regard.The report observes that there are enough scope and opportunities to improve the management and operation of Chittagong Port for turning it into a hub of uninterrupted economic activity.About Mongla Port, the report says the demand of service has come down as the port remains dysfunctional to a large extent. The port is not that much active due to its location, longer river route, siltation problem and lack of linkage between the upper area and the port.The activities of Chittagong and Mongla ports will get a boost once water vessels carrying commodities from India, Nepal and Bhutan started plying through Bangladesh river routes under transshipment, the report said. But, to utilise the scope, the port authorities need to develop the internal transport infrastructure and modernise other facilities.About the solution to labour-related problem in Chittagong Port, the report recommends the formation of a committee headed by an official of the port authority to solve labour problems on an urgent basis.It says one representative from the Shipping Ministry, Labour Ministry, labour union of the port, berth operator labour union each have be the members of the committee.About Chittagong port’s manpower shortage, the report said manpower shortage of the port is hampering its activities and management and the report suggests that the Shipping and the Public Administration ministries should approve the recruitment of additional manpower as per the demand of the Chittagong Port Authority.On the use of modern equipment at the port, the report observes that most of the existing equipment in the port are obsolete and those need to be replaced.The maintenance of the existing equipment are hardly done as per the instruction of producers and it recommends proper maintenance of those.About the Mongla Port, the audit report observes that the facilities and equipment, extended from 50 percent to 90 percent, remain underused.The report also mentions that the government has taken various projects for the development of infrastructure of the port, which include the construction of food jetty and silo, construction of Inland Container Terminal in Pangaon and Khanpur, rail connectivity between Mongla and Khulna and setting up of Khanjahan Ali Airport.
