The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has urged Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam to take immediate steps to curb piracy and theft targeting foreign commercial vessels at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, 22 July, CCCI President Mohammad Amirul Haque called for stronger Coast Guard patrols in vulnerable areas, enhanced intelligence surveillance, international-standard maritime security measures and swift legal action against those responsible.
The Chamber said three foreign commercial vessels had fallen victim to piracy at the port’s outer anchorage over the past month, with ship equipment, spare parts and other valuables worth crores of taka allegedly looted.
According to the letter, ship operators informed the Coast Guard and port authorities during the attacks but did not receive immediate assistance, raising concerns among foreign shipowners, shipping agents and seafarers.
The CCCI said around 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s import and export trade is handled through Chattogram Port. It noted that ongoing government development projects are expected to double the port’s container handling capacity by 2035 and transform it into a regional investment and transshipment logistics hub.
The Chamber warned that recurring piracy incidents could damage the port’s international standing and erode global shipping companies’ confidence. It said security lapses at the outer anchorage pose a threat to the shipping industry, national economy, international trade and Bangladesh’s image abroad.
Continued attacks, it said, could increase marine insurance premiums, cause operational delays and raise trade costs, undermining efforts to improve the country’s ease of doing business and reduce the cost of doing business.
Referring to the latest Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) report, the CCCI noted that no piracy or armed robbery incidents were recorded at Chittagong Port between January and April this year. It credited the achievement to coordinated efforts by the Chattogram Port Authority and Bangladesh Coast Guard under a zero-tolerance policy.
However, the Chamber cautioned that recent attacks could affect future international assessments and tarnish Bangladesh’s maritime reputation.
The CCCI called for prompt and impartial investigations, exemplary punishment for those involved, internationally accepted maritime security measures and round-the-clock surveillance to restore confidence among international shipping companies and seafarers.
It also urged the Shipping Minister to increase Coast Guard patrols in high-risk areas, strengthen intelligence monitoring, launch special operations against criminal syndicates and receivers of stolen goods, and ensure the safety and security of ships waiting at the port’s outer anchorage.
