The special task force of the Department of Shipping (DoS) conducted a joint operation in the Shitalakshya River near the Shah Cement area in Muktarpur, Munshiganj, on Sunday.
The drive was aimed at maintaining discipline in the waterways and preventing the use of lighter vessels as floating warehouses, read a press release issued Sunday.
During the operation, officials inspected a total of 28 lighter vessels arriving from Chattogram port carrying essential commodities, including wheat, chickpeas, peas (dabri), and soybeans.
Among the inspected vessels, the task force identified one vessel that had been waiting for more than 10 days and three vessels that had remained stationary for over 20 days.
The presence of the task force reportedly led to increased momentum in unloading activities at the ghats, as representatives of the relevant agencies were aware of the operation.
Representatives from several consignee firms – including Nahar Agro, Noapara Traders, Shabnam Trading, Abul Khair, Sheikh Brothers, Madina Group, SS Trading, and Arman Feed—were given necessary instructions to ensure the swift discharge of goods.
All stakeholders were notified of the deadlines set by the Director General of the Department of Shipping for completing the unloading process. The authorities reiterated that strict legal action would be taken, and mobile courts would be conducted if the specified timeframes are not met.
The Department of Shipping stated that such operations will continue in the future to ensure the orderly movement of vessels.
