The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has approved the destruction of 289 tonnes of long-stored items — including 20 tonnes of dangerous cargo chemicals — currently lying in various sheds of Chattogram port.
The disposal will be carried out at the Lafarge Holcim factory in Sunamganj, Sylhet under the supervision of Chattogram Custom House.
The decision came during a meeting at the NBR on Sunday, attended by senior officials of the Chattogram Port Authority and customs house. It was also decided to organise two auctions every month — instead of the current one — to expedite the sale of auctionable goods at the port.
Chattogram Port Authority Director (traffic) Enamul Karim said the initiative aims to clear goods that have remained unclaimed for an extended period, freeing up port space. Hazardous materials have been destroyed at the Sylhet factory on multiple occasions in the past due to the lack of proper destruction facilities in Chattogram.
As of November 2, the port’s authority reports a total of 10,184 TEUs of auctionable containers are occupying the port yard.
