Business leaders here in the port city urged Chittagong Port Authority to resume operation of Pangaon Container Terminal immediately.
They made the call at a meeting with CPA yesterday, adding that the operation would ease their sufferings in carrying containers during blockades and hartals.
The business leaders also placed a set of recommendations in this regard, including removal of procedural complexities.
CPA chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Nizamuddin Ahmed assured them of necessary measures to resume the operation of the terminal.
On December 9, the CPA started carrying of containers between Chittagong Port and Pangaon Terminal engaging two vessels under a special arrangement.
But days later it came to a halt as the CPA was not getting adequate containers to carry through the waterway.
“It is necessary to conduct campaign among the foreign buyers about the Pangaon terminal. The CPA can sit with the buyers’ forum to inform about the advantages of the use of the terminal,” said Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, who also attended the meeting.
He stressed the need for displaying information of the terminal on the website of the port, adding that they were also highlighting facilities of the terminal to the buyers.
Mahabubul Alam, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was necessary to ensure that carrying cost and time on the waterway would be less than that of the road transport.
Hatem Ali, acting president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, MA Salam, a director of FBCCI, and Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, first vice president of BGMEA, were also present, among others.
The meeting was held at the auditorium of the Chittagong Port.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Chittagong Port jointly constructed the terminal at Pangaon area of Keraniganj on the bank of the River Buriganga.
The construction cost was Tk 1.54bn. The terminal is expected to open up a new horizon in waterway transportation of containers.
The terminal, inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 7, has the capacity to house 3,500 TEUs of containers. It can handle 116,000 TEUs annually, which will gradually be raised to 160,000 TEUs.
CPA sources said they had procured three vessels - Pangaon Express, Pangaon Success and Pangaon Vision - from China at a total cost of Tk45 crore.
They were bought to carry containers to and from the terminal.
Each of the vessels has a capacity of carrying 180 TEUs of containers.
