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Settling disputes between port managers

Nov 16, 2007 Port

SURPRISINGLY, after long five years of handing over of the Benapole land-port, the financial dispute between the two government organisations - the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) and the Land Port Authority (LPA) - is yet to be settled as it continues to cause impediments in the way of smooth management of the country's vital land-port. The Ministry of Shipping held a meeting recently with top officials of both the port authorities to resolve the dispute that developed after the handing over of the management of the Benapole land-port, which was under the management of the MPA, to the LPA in 2002 as reported by media. The outcome of the meeting was confined to forming a three-member inquiry committee to be headed by a deputy secretary of the Shipping Ministry and two representatives - one each from the two authorities concerned, and the committee was asked to submit its report in 15 days.

The dispute arose following a financial claim made by the Mongla Port Authority to the Land Port Authority for handing over the management of Benapole land-port. The MPA has been claiming about Taka 39 crore from the LPA as the charge for handing over the ownership of 25 warehouses and handling equipment, and

also the operating cost and salary of some employees of Benapole land-port. But the LPA ignored the claim, saying that the then secretary to the ministry at a meeting on 2002 had announced that handing over the assets would be 'free of charges'. The LPA also said that the Mongla Port Authority charged what it termed as 'illegal higher amount' rather than a real reasonable amount. The Land Port Authority expressed its willingness to resolve the dispute, although it said that the charge should be reasonable and this prompted the ministry to form the inquiry committee to fix the outstanding amount.

The LPA is ready to pay the dues and settle the matter and the amount should be calculated after considering that the Benapole land-port was handed over to one government organisation from another. The Land Port Authority earns on an average Taka 15 crore from the Benapole land-port per year and the customs authority on an average Taka 1,500 crore, according to the report. In view of the importance of a land-port like Benapole through which bulk of the bilateral trade with neighbouring India is carried out, it should have been cautiously and efficiently run by attaching priority by the ministry. After the handing over of the land-port from one authority to another within the government the financial matter or dispute should have been settled within shortest possible time. There is hardly any scope of taking this issue with any leniency as sensitive issue of country's export and import is involved.


Source: The New Nation

 
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