DHAKA, July 7, 2021 (BSS)- Chittagong port is not facing any mentionable problem as there is no shortage of ships and empty containers for transporting goods from there.

This information was given in a virtual meeting on 'Export of Shipping to Chittagong Port' from the meeting room of the Ministry of Shipping here today, a press release said.

Shipping Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury presided over the meeting, the release added.

There is no big problem in shipping of export goods in the Chittagong port, the release said, adding that besides, in the last 15 days, some 26 ships have left Bangladesh which had a capacity of 38,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TUEs) but those ships carried 27,000 TUEs leaving 11,000 TUEs spaces unused.

The Chittagong port and various off-docks have about 40,000 TUEs empty containers, the meeting informed.

It was informed at the meeting that in case of handling of goods and containers, the Chittagong port is working round the clock to ensure better services.

The Chittagong port is open 24 hours even during the lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Unloading of goods and containers from the ship, delivery to the importer and loading of export container to vessels are being conducted normally, said in the meeting.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has handled 30,97,237 TEUs containers, 11,37,29,373 metric tons of cargo and 4,062 ships in the fiscal year 2020-2021.

In the fiscal year 2019-2020, it handled 30,04,142 TEUs containers, 10,15,65,272 metric tons of cargo and 3,764 ships.

Cargo, container and ship handling grew by 11.98 percent, 3.09 percent and 7.92 percent respectively in FY 2020-2021.

It was further informed at the meeting that a task force has been formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Shipping Sultan Abdul Hamid to address the future demand of the port and solve potential problems.

Member of Customs (Policy) Syed Golam Kibria, additional secretary of the Ministry of Commerce AHM Shafiquzzaman, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan and chairman of Mongla Port Authority Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa also joined the virtual meeting, among others.