HC stays enlistment process of operators by Ctg Port Authority for 6 months

The High Court (HC) on Thursday stayed the process to enlist operators by Chittagong Port Authority for handling ships for six months due to violation of the legal procedure.

A two-member bench comprising of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the order after hearing a petition, said the plaintiff’s counsel advocate Abir Abbas Chowdhury.

The court also issued a rule asking the port authority to explain as to why it would not be declared illegal the move to enlist operators for handling ships without following Bangladesh gazette and tender procedure.

Earlier, the Chittagong port authority decided to enlist operators for handling local and foreign ships at Cox’s Bazar’s Kutubdia, outer anchorage in sea and other specialised jetties.

Later, an organisation ‘ST Enterprise’ moved the HC with the petition seeking directives on the enlistment of operators bringing allegations of violation of the ‘Regulations for Working of Chittagong Port (Cargo & Container) and Bangladesh gazette to enlist the operators.

After the hearing, the court on Thursday stayed the enlistment process for next six months.