The Chittagong Port Authority on Thursday directed all lighter vessels carrying goods to leave the port limit within 72 hours to ensure uninterrupted supply chain and stable market prices during Ramadan.
Legal action would be taken against vessels failing to comply with the directive, warned Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman while talking to the media.
“Recently, it has been observed that after unloading cargo from mother vessels at the outer anchorage, lighter vessels remain within the port limit for extended periods without any valid reason. This disrupts the supply chain, creates artificial crises in the market, increases commodity prices that affect the consumers,” Moniruzzaman said.
Creating artificial shortages to manipulate prices is against the interests of the country and people and the prolonged presence of excessive lighter vessels within a restricted area also poses security risks, he added.
The port chairman said keeping the port limit free of obstructions is crucial for the uninterrupted movement of international commercial vessels.
The unauthorised presence of lighter vessels within the port boundary is a clear violation of the Chittagong Port Act and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.