Editorial
That port deadlock
An avoidable mistake corrected belatedly
At last the government has decided to exempt foreign container vessel operators from obtaining 'waiver certificates' before their loading and unloading operations. If the decision was taken a bit earlier or if the circular had not been issued in the first place, there wouldn't have been the crippling glut at Chittagong Port, a lifeline to the country's economy, we have had the misfortune of witnessing. The Bangladesh Flag Vessel (protection) Ordinance was introduced way back in 1982, but was never implemented. Recently a local company moved to the court seeking application of the law. The court deciding on a point of law, the government issued a circular about the waiver requirement on the part of foreign shipping lines. All major foreign vessel operators suspended operation from May 31. What the government failed to realise earlier on is that the rapid increase in the volumes of export and import, subsequent to the promulgation of the ordinance in 1982, overtook the latter. That means the government did not do home work before issuing the circular on waiver certificate. They should have held meetings with the stakeholders before deciding on such a course of action. If they had done so, they would not have had the need to retract, much to their embarrassment and loss of port handling hours. For all we know, the commerce minister had tried to persuade his cabinet colleagues on the question. Now, thanks to the reality check, the cabinet has decided to amend the ordinance. Knee-jerk reactions were better avoided in the first place that is the lesson to draw from the experience. The concern for protection of a local industry has to be balanced out with the imperative for liberalisation of trade.
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