Bidding for Ctg Container Terminal Operation
Party lawmaker slams Mohiuddin
Awami League lawmaker MA Latif yesterday criticised his party colleague and former Chittagong city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury for his recent movement against alleged irregularities in the bidding process for appointment of private operators of New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port.
The lawmaker said that in the name of saving Chittagong Port, the movement would only create anarchy to the destruction of the existing good operational condition of the port and urged the senior AL leader to stop the protest.
Mohiuddin alleges that Chittagong Port Authority has relaxed some rules and conditions of the bidding to favour a local company, Saif Power Tech Ltd of Bangaldesh, which, he says, is incompetent to operate the specialised terminal.
Five international and local firms finally submitted their tenders Thursday for operation of the terminal.
MA Latif termed Mohiuddin's allegations baseless. “A vested section comprising some labour leaders is trying to create anarchy through bringing baseless allegations for their own interests, and they are using Mohiuddin for the purpose.”
“Why he (Mohiddin) raised the allegations of irregularities just two days before the tender dropping while the tender documents were sold over three months back?" he asked.
“If there were irregularities, the bidders would oppose them and would refrain from taking part in the bidding. But five international and local firms out of six pre-qualified ones took part in the tender process.”
Latif blamed Mohiuddin, also Chittagong city unit president of AL, for starting the movement without holding talks with the port users and for not bringing up the allegations in the Advisory Committee on Chittagong Port.
Referring to the names of Mahfuzur Rahman and Abdul Ahad, general secretary and joint secretary of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation, Latif said the two men had created anarchic situation in the port many times.
For their petty self-interests, they are misguiding Mohiuddin, he said, adding that such act would tarnish the image of Mohiuddin and the party. “For God's sake, please don't do anything which may cause people's sufferings and destroy the economy of the country,” Latif asked Mohiuddin.
Mohiuddin has been leading the movement as the chairman of recently formed Chattagram Bandar Raksha Parishad. The forum held a human chain in front of Chittagong Press Club yesterday and will hold a roundtable on the issue today.
MA Latif was speaking at a views exchange meeting organised by Port Users' Forum at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) yesterday.
BGMEA first vice president Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said the productivity and capacity of Chittagong Port had enhanced much in the last five years, and at this moment all political parties should show responsibility.
If there is any irregularity in the bidding, there should be an investigation, he said.
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