Editorial
Keep Chittagong Port out of politics
Enough is enough
We are concerned at the disruption of the operations of the Chittagong Port. It was already limping from as early as October due to the dock- workers' opposition to the idea of leasing out the sophisticated gantry crane operations to a private company. And since end Nov its operation has been coming to a complete standstill during the period of the 14-party blockade. Currently, as many as 70 ships are waiting at the jetty and outer anchorage for loading and unloading. To add to all this around 18000 containers are stockpiled in the container yard. Needless to say, the blockade has already caused enormous harm to the country's economy. Our exports and imports are badly hit. The most important segment of our economy namely the RMG sector is the worst hit, the consequences of which will be certainly disastrous for the country's economy. Its effect may not be apparent immediately but will tell on our economy not in the very distant future. The role played by the Mayor of the port city in the strangulation of the port cannot escape ones notice. It seems that Chittagong port has become his private backyard being used to wield political pressure. He is a man of virtue and popular too, but exploiting the port for political mileage is reprehensible. We therefore urge all concerned to come forward and help create the conditions so that the Chittagong Port can go into full and uninterrupted operations from here onwards. Given the current political state of the country none other than the political parties have to take the lead in this regard. At the same time the administration too has to use all its resources and wisdom to the fullest and make the port fully operational without any further loss of time. It may be emphasized once aging that whatever may be at stake for the politicians and the political parties nothing can be bigger than the country. Finding alternate means of protests lie squarely on the shoulders of the political parties. Holding national resources hostage to gain partisan political objectives cannot be endorsed.
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