At a press conference held at Chittagong Press Club yesterday the leaders of the Parishad placed a 15-point demand in this regard.

The leaders alleged that Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman along with some officials and port CBA leaders amassed a huge amount from the projects through corruption.

They also demanded resignation of CPA chairman and exemplary punishment to people involved in the corruption.

Secretary General of the parishad Md Mahfuzur Rahman Khan read out the written statement at the conference.

The leaders alleged that a huge area of land at Laldiar Char and Maizzar Tek was leased out for developing container terminal at private initiative instead of CPA's own initiative.

They blasted the decision of leasing out around 14 acres of land adjoining to the closed down Chittagong Steel Mill for recently inaugurated Karnaphuli EPZ. The land was actually earmarked for developing yards for handling increasing number containers of the port in future, claimed the leaders.

Parishad leaders also demanded for immediate cancellation of the agreement CPA signed with gantry crane supplier Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan and its local agent - Saif Power Tech.

They said that as per the agreement Saif Power Tech was to provide training to some operators of CPA for operation of gantry cranes at Chittagong port.

But, instead of providing training, Saif Power Tech engaged its men, also inexperienced hands, for gantry operation and was charging as high as Tk 470 for handling of each container while CPA operators used to charge only Tk 5.

Parishad Joint Convener Wahidullah Sarker, Jatiya Sramik League Secretary Md Ilias, Joint Secretary Md Shahidul Alam Bakul, Dock Sramik Union President Golam Mohammad Chowdhury, General Secretary Abdul Ahad, Merchant Sramik Union Joint Secretary Md Hasan, Coaster Haze Sramik League President Md Alamgir and Coaster Haze Sramik Union Secretary Mohiuddin Kabir were also present at the conference.