All import and export oriented products are coming under the scan system

News Desk: In order to build a safe port system with modern technology, all import and export oriented products are coming under scanning system in Chittagong port. At present, the port of Chittagong only has the facility of testing by scanning device for imported goods, but it is not available for export. It is learned that steps have been taken to ensure full scanning system at Chittagong port under agreements with various international organizations and in view of the long-standing demand of the United States, a major exporting partner.

Stakeholders are of the view that the port needs to be developed as a modern and efficient institution in line with the requirements of the International Ship and Port Safety Code (ISPS), the US Container Initiative (CSI) and the United Nations International Port Security Agency. Experts believe that it is possible to build an international standard port by working together with the port authorities and the customs department of the government. The main responsibility of the port authority is to protect the internal environment of the port and the port channel system including the river side facing the jetty. On the other hand, in the case of import and export of goods, the customs is responsible for the collection of customs duty including quality and safety. According to the concerned people of Chittagong Port Authority, considering the real situation, they have been fulfilling their responsibilities as much as possible. But it has not yet fully passed the standards and expertise of various international agencies in installing scanners and testing appropriate products as part of customs operations under the control of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). In view of this, an initiative has been taken to install scanners for all container import-export tests through most of the gates in Chittagong port. Chittagong Port currently has seven scanner machines. Two of them are mobile scanners. The remaining scanners are installed at five gates. These are basically scanners of imported products. However, Chittagong Customs has been demanding the installation of 12 scanning machines at at least 12 gates of the port for a long time.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Shahjahan, chairman of Chittagong Port, said the main purpose of purchasing two scanners by the Chittagong Port Authority was to facilitate the implementation of the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS). At the same time, two more scanners provided by the port will go one step further in scanning customs export-oriented cargo containers.

Chittagong Customs Commissioner Mohammad Fakhrul Alam said if they get four scanners from NBR and two from Chittagong port, they will be able to scan the import and export of goods with a total of 13 scanners of Chittagong Customs. He opined that this would increase the convenience of customs work and address the long standing demands of the business community.