The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Chittagong

Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Commodore M Faruk yesterday said the operational activities of the port would gradually be handed over to private management.

"But the port machinery would not be allowed to be used by the private management after the privatisation," Commodore M Faruk said while talking to journalists on the occasion of the port's 121st founding anniversary.

After the privatisation, he said, the port authority would only monitor the port activities as a regulatory body. Referring to the port's enhanced efficiency, the port chairman said the average stay of ships in the port was 12 days in October 2006 and it is now only two and half days following the 1/11. "Efforts are on to bring down it to two days," he said.

About the steps taken for modernisation of the port, Commodore Faruk said, "We want to see it as one of the world's modern ports by 2010."