Port activity came normal after getting Internet connection, Benapole Port still runs slow

Chittagong and Benapole ports were totally shut down for five days. The ports have started functioning after the internet connections were was restarted. The operational activities of the port started to return to normal from Wednesday afternoon. In Chittagong port, the import-export new shipment customs clearance and shipment of export goods have also started in the customs. This activity is going on in full swing on Thursday.

However, since the morning of Wednesday (July 24), the export-import activities with India have been started through the Benapole land port, but the port users are not able to work properly due to the slowness of the Internet.

Ziaur Rahman, General Secretary of the Import-Export Association, said that due to the disconnection of the Internet, the import-export activities between Benapole-Petrapole port and the release of goods from the port were stopped for four consecutive days. The activities between the two countries became normal from Wednesday from the morning as the internet connection restarted. But due to the slow speed of the Internet, port users are not able to work.

On the other hand, Secretary of Chittagong Port Omar Farooq said that with the launch of Broadband Internet of Chittagong Port, the operational activities of the port have also been started after four days of stagnation. We are delivering the goods that are cleared by customs. Coordination with customs is being done for this. Port Authority operations are now normal.

Chittagong Customs Commissioner Mohammad Faizur Rahman said, after being closed for four days, online customs was launched on Wednesday as an alternative system. So, anyone can come to the customs house and submit the import-export invoice documents. Tolling operations are also underway at container depots outside. However, so that ships carrying imported goods do not have to wait at sea, IGM (Initial Bill of Lading) is being approved for imports in the traditional manner. As of Tuesday, 13 ships have been granted IGM approval. This does not prevent the unloading of goods from these ships at the port jetty.

Chittagong Customs House Deputy Commissioner Imam Ghazzali said that manual customs clearance of perishable goods started from Tuesday. All activities returned to normal after the internet services resumed on Wednesday. If there is no pay order and invoice, we undertake to release the goods.

Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said that we have all kinds of preparations to keep the activities of Chittagong port running even in the emergency situation. Port officials and all stakeholders are ready to keep Chittagong port operational. If goods are cleared from Chittagong customs, arrangements are being made for quick release of goods from the port. The Port Authority Chairman said that all security measures have been taken to reach Dhaka and other parts of the country through free goods vehicles.

According to Chittagong Port sources, due to ongoing curfew situation in the country and internet services being stopped, no container goods were released from the port on Saturday and Monday. However, 1525 TEUS's (20ft unit) containers loaded with imported goods have been taken from the port to private depots. 65 TEUS' containers have been taken to EPZs (Export Processing Zones). There are 42 thousand 120 single containers of import inside Chittagong port. There were 40,000 containers there on Tuesday. This has resulted in some confusion in the loading and unloading of containers from ships arriving at the port. However, unloading and lightening of goods from the mother vessel is going on at the outer anchorage of Chittagong port. The port authority said that 79 thousand tons of goods were released from the outer anchorage on Monday night and 116 thousand tons of goods were released on Sunday before that.