The ongoing fuel oil shortage is severely disrupting the movement of lighter vessels around Chattogram Port.
The situation has raised concerns that cargo unloading from mother vessels at outer anchorages could come to a complete halt, the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (BWTCC) has warned.
BWTCC has urgently sought intervention from Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
In the letter on Monday, BWTCC Convener Shafiq Ahmed Swakshti highlighted that despite informing the Ministry of Energy Secretary about the situation on March 9, no effective solutions have been implemented.
The crisis has worsened due to inadequate fuel supply from state-owned fuel companies – Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna – which have failed to meet the fuel demands of marine dealers.
As a result, lighter vessels are facing significant challenges in loading goods from mother vessels and completing subsequent unloading trips.
“The number of operational lighter vessels at the port is steadily declining,” according to the letter.
BWTCC has raised alarms, warning that if the situation continues, it could result in a complete stoppage of cargo unloading at Chattogram Port, a crucial hub for Bangladesh’s economy.
Prolonged delays of mother vessels could lead to high demurrage costs in foreign currency, discouraging shipping companies from docking at the port in the future.
Such disruptions threaten the national economy and the availability of consumer goods. This could also push up the prices of daily necessities.
The BWTCC has urgently called for fuel oil supplies to sustain the operation of lighter vessels.
A meeting with ministry officials and BWTCC representatives has been scheduled to discuss and propose solutions.
Convener Shafiq Ahmed has urged the authorities to direct fuel suppliers to meet the demands promptly to prevent further disruption at the port.
