The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Unloading of over two lakh metric tones of imported wheat, which were stockpiled in the ships at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port has began on Saturday night.

The unloading of wheat, which were kept floating in the 'floating warehouses' for a long time was made possible within the very short time following intervention by the Army-led joint forces and taking of some measures to expedite the unloading of food grains so that it could be supplied in the market soon.

The joint forces have taken the initiative on Friday night after being informed that over 2 lakh metric tons of privately imported wheat were not unloaded despite those consignments reached at the outer anchorage of the port since last week of September in more than one hundred lighterage vessels and some mother vessels.

Some trade body leaders as well as market sources said that some unscrupulous importers have done this intentionally for making extra profits by creating artificial crisis of wheat in the market.

Trade body leaders opined that had the consignments of wheat unloaded and supplied in the market timely, the prices of flour could not have been reached at present abnormal level.

During the series of meetings with the joint forces officials, the importers have argued that they could not unload the wheat from the lighterage vessels due to unavailability of berthing facilities at port jetties and slow pace of work at private ghats due to shortage of workers.

According to the steps taken by the joint forces, 11 wheat carrying lighter vessels took berth at 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 port jetties and unloading of wheat have started from Saturday afternoon.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman Commodore Muhammad Farooq told BSS that at present wheat are being unloaded from two mother vessels and 11 lighter vessels at port jetties.

"We always allow lighter vessels to have berth at port facilities for discharging cargoes whenever there are scope but it is not possible when the berthing facilities are occupied by big ships," he added.

A CPA official said that they can not willingly invite the importers or shippers to use port jetties for unloading their cargoes, and moreover, private wheat importers did not place their requirements to the CPA to allocate berthing facilities for unloading wheat from lighter vessels.

Sources said 26,360 out of 43,400 metric tons of wheat were unloaded from mother vessel MV Golden Sarinda while 16,649 out of 25,000 metric tons of wheat were unloaded from MV Lakearua till Sunday noon .

On the other hand, about 5,000 out of around 10,000 metric tons of wheat were discharged from 11 lighter vessels till yesterday afternoon.

At the same time, unloading of wheat from 18 lighter vessels have been going in full swing at private ghats from Saturday night.

"Three shift work roaster including night shifts was introduced yesterday night at the private ghats to make the unloading faster as per directives given to the owners of the ghats, " Brig. General Hasan Nasir of the joint forces told BSS.

The joint forces also taken initiative to monitor the supply of wheat and market situation to monitor why the price of flour rose at an abnormal level when importers claimed that they are selling wheat at Taka 27 to Taka 29 per kg to the flour mill owners and retailers.

Brig. General Nasir said they have also kept an eye whether the wheat are being supplied to the market chain or being hoarded by another rackets.

"Some leading importers have agreed to give us the names of buyers of their wheat by tomorrow," he said adding it would be helpful for them to monitor the wheat and flour market at least in Chittagong region .