Mobile court drives in N’ganj against artificial food

Staff Reporter :

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has conducted a mobile court operation on Monday, led by the BIWTA Executive Magistrates Ziaur Rahman and Ashrafur Rahman in Narayanganj’s Shitalakshya, Meghna, and Dhaleshwari rivers as there are growing concerns that an artificial food crisis could emerge during the upcoming Ramadan. 

A large number of  mother vessels has been carrying food products, currently waiting for unloading at Chattogram Port. However, due to a shortage of lighter vessels, transportation of goods from these mother vessels has been severely disrupted.

According to BIWTA officials, there are growing concerns that an artificial food crisis could emerge during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. To prevent this, BIWTA’s mobile court has taken action against idle vessels. During the operation, officials inspected cargo ships carrying food products and held discussions with shipmasters, drivers, crew members, loading and unloading workers, and leaseholders.

Authorities instructed that all cargo be unloaded promptly and that vessels immediately head to Chattogram Port. Additionally, a lighter vessel was fined 10,000 BDT for non-compliance.

BIWTA’s Narayanganj River Port Deputy Director (Port) Mobarak Hossain Mazumdar, Deputy Director (Naval Safety) Nahid Hossain, and other officials were also present during the drive.