Ctg Port: BWTCC operating lighter vessels in violation of court order
Cement Manufacturers Association says it is an act of contempt of court
Despite a High Court injunction, the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) continues to transport goods via lighter ships across 37 inland water routes from Chattogram Port.
Although the High Court issued a stay on the serial transportation system following a writ petition by vessel owners on November 19, BWTCC has kept the system in place. As a result, importers are unable to hire vessel by their choice and are paying an additional cost of Tk150 to Tk200 per tonne for transportation.
On December 3, the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association served a legal notice to eight representatives of various organisations, including the director general of the Department of Shipping, the chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, and the chairman of BWTCC, accusing them of contempt of court. The notice was issued by Supreme Court lawyer Mustafizur Rahman Khan.
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The legal notice said that the Department of Shipping, BWTCC, and related organisations are violating the court's directive.
The Cement Manufacturers Association said that despite the court order, BWTCC is enforcing the serial system, which is resulting in higher transportation costs of Tk150-200 per tonne.
Attempts to reach BWTCC Convener and Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association (BCVOA) President Saeed Ahmed were unsuccessful.
However, Engineer Mehbub Kabir, general secretary of BCVOA and a member of BWTCC, told The Business Standard that lighter vessels are still being operated in accordance with the serial system as expected by vessel owners. Every day, BWTCC's office at Agrabad in Chattogram, issues serials for 50-70 lighter vessels. "If vessel owners follow the serial system, what issue does the Cement Manufacturers Association have?" Mehbub Kabir questioned.
Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, director general of the Department of Shipping, said, "We are not monitoring the BWTCC or the serial system following the High Court's directive on the transportation policy." He denied any allegations of legal violations against his department.
Earlier, three vessel owners' associations—Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association (BCVOA), Coastal Vessel Owners Association (COAB), and Inland Vessel Owners Association of Chittagong (IVOAC)—jointly controlled the serial system through the Water Transport Cell. However, disputes among vessel owners and a High Court injunction led to the dissolution of the Water Transport Cell.
Since 2023, these associations have been operating serials independently, allowing importers to hire vessels of their choice. Consequently, cargo transportation costs across routes from Chattogram to Dhaka and other regions decreased by around 20% over the past year.
In the meantime, the Department of Shipping introduced the Goods Transport Policy 2024 to ensure discipline in cargo transportation from Chattogram Port. The director general of the department inaugurated the serial system on November 4.
Fifteen days later, on November 19, 11 lighter vessel owners filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the policy and the activities of BWTCC.
Following the writ petition, Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi imposed a six-month suspension on the Goods Transport Policy 2024 and issued a rule seeking an explanation from the authorities.
The rule inquires why the Goods Transport Policy 2024 and the establishment and operation of BWTCC should not be declared as actions taken "without lawful authority".
