3 illegal dockyards sealed in port city

Three illegal dockyards were sealed off while six vessels, three brick kilns and a bakery were fined for various irregularities in Chittagong yesterday.

In the city, a mobile court of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sealed off three illegal dockyards built on the bank of the Karnaphuli River.

The court also fined the owners of the three structures -- Millat Dockyard, Kalurghat Dockyard and Monsur Shipyard in Kalurghat area -- Tk 2 lakh and asked to close their operation and clear the space within five days.

Six vessels -- MV Prince of Ridwan, MV Kazi Sonia-1, MV Ma-Babar Doa, MV Atpara-1, MV Barshan-2 and Dredger Mashaallah -- were fined Tk 1.8 lakh for overloading, not having safety gears and keeping date-expired fire extinguisher, said CPA officials.

In Lalkhan Bazar area of the city, another court of the Chittagong district administration fined a bakery, New Swiss Care Bakery, Tk 1 Lakh for various irregularities including not maintaining hygiene and using date-expired ingredients.

Meanwhile, three brick kilns -- BBS, MBM, and ATM brick fields -- were fined Tk 2.30 lakh at Ranirhat in Rangunia upazila for operating there business illegally and polluting the environment.