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Ministry seeks recommendations on management of New Mooring Container Terminal
3/12/2006
CHITTAGONG, Mar 11 (UNB): Shipping Ministry today (Saturday) sent separate letters to the Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority and President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) seeking recommendations over the management of New Mooring terminal.
They have been asked to submit the recommendations within seven days.
Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain suspended tender submission on Friday as Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury opposed the privatisation of the under-construction container terminal.
At a meeting at Pilot School ground in Kaptai today (Saturday) Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury reiterated his vow to resist the conspiracy to privatise the New Mooring terminal.
Though the tender submission has been suspended, the Shipping Minister is conspiring to hand over the port to foreign authorities, he alleged.
Mayor Mohiuddin Wednesday threatened to launch a tough movement if the management the terminal is handed over to private sector.
A meeting on handing over the management of New Mooring Container Terminal to private sector ended inconclusively on Thursday as the participating groups blamed each other for destroying the port.
Business leaders, representatives of port users and 22 labour organisations attended the meeting to discuss whether the under-construction container terminal would be run by the Port Authority or be handed over to private management.
Construction work on the container terminal is likely to be completed in August and it is scheduled to start commercial activities in September this year.
Meanwhile, 22 labour organisations have given an ultimatum to the government to stop the process of privatisation of the container terminal by March 15.
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