Their suggestions came against the backdrop of frequent strikes and labour unrest in the ports in Bangladesh.

Currently, stevedoring firms at both Chittagong and Mongla ports recruit workers from the dock workers' management boards. The boards are headed by chairman of the port concerned, but labour unions usually control them.

The government should replace the present recruiting system with direct hiring from a labour pool, the speakers told the session.

They said the Chittagong Port alone has at least 25 labour unions who oppose privatisation process and development of new container facilities which would reduce demand for labourers.

The discussants pointed out 'overstaffing' of the Chittagong Port and suggested introduction of voluntary retirement scheme to downsize the manpower.

Chittagong Port has 18,400 people for cargo handling, five times the number of people should be required for handling all goods in a port like Chittagong, they said.

KM Maqsudul Mannan, transport specialist of the World Bank, said when union-called strikes paralyse port activities, political parties make it a sensitive issue and harbour unions.

Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority M Mofizur Rahman said number of unions should be reduced and workers should be given motivation and training to make ports efficient.

Chairing the session, President-elect of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abdul Awal Mintoo said lack of infrastructure and interface between customs and port authority contributes to inefficiency of ports.

S Sundar, a fellow of Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi, made a presentation on 'Restructuring and regulation in the ports sector: Indian experience'.

He said, through private sector participation and efficient management, pre-berthing delay in major Indian seaports has been reduced to 0.34 days from 3.6 days.

The vessel turnaround time has been curtailed from 8.3 days to 3.8 days while labour force in major Indian ports cut to 74,000 from 1,05,000, he added.

Hadi Hossain Babul, chief (planning) of Chittagong Port Authority, said the port authority should be given financial freedom to run it efficiently. To increase coordination, a committee should be formed involving port authority, customs and users.

Currently, vessels arriving at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port wait three to four days before berthing.

Chittagong and Mongla ports annually handle about 20 million tonnes of cargo of which 87 per cent is imports. Chittagong handles over 80 per cent of total sea-borne traffic.