Chittagong Port Authority has formed a five-member panel to investigate into the unloading of a lightering vessel, laden with Chevron products, at the port without clearance.
The port’s sub-keeper Captain Nazmul Haque has been made head of the panel.
The lightering vehicle has been kept under watch of the Bangladesh Coast Guard at jetty number 15.
The Secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority Syed Farhad Uddin confirmed to bdnews24.com about the formation of the probe committee to investigate into the unusual incident.
According to him, it is customary to unload goods upon permission of the Bangladesh Navy.
Chittagong Customs Commissioner Mohammad Masud Sadiq told bdnews24.com that routine checks are performed in presence of navy officials to see whether the goods contained explosives or any other unauthorised items.
He said navy officials were not present at the time when the goods were being unloaded into the lightering vessel.
Usually big ships remain anchored at mid-sea and lightering vessels ferry goods from the mother ship to the port.
According to Sadiq, unloading goods in this manner requires clearance from the explosives department, port and customs authorites.
The ship was only lacking permission from the navy, which according to Sadiq was to be obtained on Saturday morning.
Dhaka’s Homebound Ltd is the clearing and forwarding agent (C&F) for the institution.
Coastguard’s Chittagong Zone Operation Officer Lt Commander Abdullah Yusuf said: “The good-laden vessel Agontuk-3 is currently under our watch at jetty number 5.”
He said the vessel was releasing goods from a foreign ship anchored at the outer jetty.
It was carrying 2,300 packets of seismic power gel and accessories, which are used in the exploration of mineral resources.bdnews24.com
