Stalled Karnaphuli dredging project

We are disappointed to see that the dredging project of the Karnaphuli River, a lifeline for Chittagong city and the port, has been stalled for more than three years. Due to silt deposition the river is gradually losing navigability that has serious impact on smooth movement of vessels. 

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) had hired Malaysian Maritime and Dredging Corporation (MMDC) in 2011 for dredging the riverbed. The company failed to complete the work within the stipulated time. But the CPA could not scrap the deal as the High Court's put a stay order on it following a writ petition filed by MMDC. And the project remains stuck there. Before the contractor left in 2013, 80% of the project was completed and the company took Tk.166 crore from the Tk. 229.54-crore project. At present, a large part of the project area has silted up again which requires new dredging. 

The project has proved to be a complete waste of public money. We see similar pictures in various government projects where chronic delay in project completion results in unacceptable cost escalation besides causing public sufferings. It clearly shows the weak governance mechanism in government projects. It also erodes public confidence on the government's efficiency. In this case, we urge the government to bring an end of this limbo and get the dredging completed within the earliest possible time.