To take one ton of cement raw material from Chittagong to Dhaka's Narayanganj, a large lighter ship with a capacity of 2000 tons costs a maximum of Tk 250 per ton. But traders have to pay about Tk 415 per ton to take products on this route. That is, an additional 165 rupees per ton is going to the stomach of the middleman. An average of 100,000 tons of goods are transported across the country by sea from Chittagong. As such, by operating lighter ships, the middlemen are filling their pockets with about 1 crore 65 lakhs per day. The amount of this money is 49 crores and 594 crores in a year! The ship owners claim that the violence of the middlemen in this sector has increased mainly because of the irregularities of the officials of Water Transport Cell or WTC, which manages the lighter ships. Not just the extra cost; They complained that they have to suffer step by step to get booking.
Due to this, on December 19, Chittagong-based owners are forming a new organization 'Inland Vessel Owners Association of Chittagong (IVOAC)' with about 250 ships separately. They are conducting new activities of ship booking through this organization. But the complaint has been made against Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association (BCVOA), an organization under WTC, for obstructing their activities. Four ships booked by them at different points were attacked last Wednesday by terrorists sent by BSIVO leaders, Ivowak leaders alleged. However, Bisivoa claims that they are obstructing some ships due to non-compliance with the rules of booking ships and keeping them in arrears. Bisivoa and Ivoak are now facing each other.
It is learned that both organizations are currently booking ships separately. The leaders of both the organizations had an argument in front of the Director General of the Directorate of Shipping. To solve the problem, the director general formed a technical committee with representatives from both sides, but the problem was not solved. The two organizations are involved in counter attacks, counter press conferences and lawsuits.
It is known that 80 percent of the goods arriving at Chittagong port go from outer anchorage to 36 ports of the country. There are about 1 thousand 800 lighter ships for transporting these goods. Out of this, 1500 lighters are being operated through WTC. With the rest, various industrial owners bring and take their products under their own supervision. Many ship owners complain that WTC is now taking a share of the profits as a middleman by collecting extra fares. This cell is also irregular in booking
taking shelter But this cell has no legal basis. Being an illegal organization they are operating the ship and pocketing the profits. For this reason, Ivovac is managing the ship with a new organization.
However, WTC is unwilling to accept this demand of Ivok. Mahbub Rashid, executive director of the company, said, 'We are the only legitimate company for booking, transporting and operating lighter ships. WTC started operating in 2003 with the support of Chittagong Chamber. No one can suddenly come in the name of a new organization and create chaos here.' Claiming that WTC is not a middleman, he said, 'We book the ships. Ensure security. Keep operations running smoothly. I accept minimum profit in return.'
General Secretary of BSIVOA Nurul Haque said, 'The desire is that the ship cannot be managed by a new organization. If you want to transport goods by ship, you have to follow the rules. Otherwise it will be blocked.' Mentioning that crores of rupees are due to many ship owners, he said, 'Those who are due, are now going on strike to new organizations. It will not be accepted. The real truth cannot be hidden with false cases.'
