Chattogram Port Crackdown on Hoarding as Vessels Languish

In a stern warning to importers attempting to manipulate market supplies ahead of Ramadan, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) conducted a high-profile mobile court operation on the Karnaphuli River this Thursday. Led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin aboard the pilot vessel Dishari-6, the raid uncovered several lighterage ships that have been converted into floating warehouses, stalling the supply chain of essential food grains.

Thirty-Four Days Adrift

The most striking discovery occurred near Sadarghat, where the vessel MV Al Aswad-2 was found riding at anchor. When questioned, the ship’s Master, Nazrul Islam, revealed a distressing timeline.

“I have been floating here with a cargo of wheat for 34 days,” he informed the magistrate. “We loaded approximately 1,900 tonnes of grain from a mother vessel on 25 December, but the importer has refused to provide unloading instructions. I have no idea when we will be allowed to discharge.”

A similar story emerged from the MV Al-Wahab, which has been stationary since 31 December with 2,400 tonnes of wheat. Despite being fined 20,000 BDT on 15 January for the same offence, the vessel remained loaded, highlighting a persistent trend of using lighterage ships to withhold goods from the market.

Strategic Hoarding Concerns

The CPA officials believe this is a calculated move by certain importers to create an artificial crisis, driving up prices of essential commodities—particularly wheat and sugar—prior to the high-demand month of Ramadan. Port regulations strictly mandate that lighterage vessels must commence unloading within three days of receiving cargo from mother vessels at the outer anchorage.

Enforcement and Legal Repercussions

Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin emphasised that using the river as a long-term storage facility is a violation of port law and a threat to national food security. “We will not allow importers to hoard goods on the water for weeks on end. This creates an artificial scarcity in the local market,” she told reporters.

By the end of the day-long operation, nine lighterage vessels were penalised, with total fines amounting to 220,000 BDT.

Lieutenant Commander Syed Sajjadur Rahman, Deputy Director of Security at Chattogram Port, stated that this “combing operation” would continue in the coming weeks. The authorities aim to ensure that the navigation channels remain clear and that essential goods reach the consumer market without deliberate delays.