No one could have imagined that the pandemic would become so terrible and powerful. In just a few months, the pandemic has changed the face of world trade, lifestyle, and global politics. Lockdowns in various countries, and declaring the state of emergency is still not slowing down the death toll. Ambulance sirens, masks and social distancing have become our constant companions. We are prepared for natural disasters and have plans on how to deal with them. But there were no advance instructions to deal with the pandemic. In this situation, the government has to take the ultimate decision- what matters more? People’s lives or livelihoods? How did the main port of the country pass those difficult days?
The pandemic is not new
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world even during this time of medical progress. However, people have suffered more than this in the past. The effects of some pandemics were so severe that they have changed the course of civilisation. The Justinian plague began in 541 AD and lasted for almost two centuries. The pandemic killed about 50 million people in the Middle East, Asia and the Mediterranean. This bacterial disease spread through rats. In the 14th century, this plague turned into one of the deadliest pandemics in Europe, the Black Death. According to LiveScience, in 1346, the Black Death spread from Asia to Europe. According to many, the pandemic killed about half of all people in Europe. The pandemic of cholera has come up in the literary works of many writers of Bengali literature. This disease has caused village after village to be devastated. One of the deadliest pandemics in modern history in regards to the number of people who died is the Spanish flu, first caught in 1918. Where World War I killed 11.6 million people in five years, the Spanish flu killed 20 million people in just two years. Unfortunately, at the beginning of last year, the world was exposed to a frightening virus called novel COVID-19. The World Health Organisation calls it the COVID-19 global pandemic in terms of infection capacity and mortality rate.
The world was unprepared
On 31 December 2019, Chinese authorities first alerted the World Health Organisation about a pneumonia-like outbreak in Wuhan, China. It was identified as COVID-19 disease caused by the novel COVID-19. Then on 11 January 2020, the first person died of this disease. But it started to spread like wildfire from the end of January. By March, the death toll had skyrocketed. If there is a COVID-19 patient on a ship, no country allows him to enter for fear of infection.
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The whole world came to a standstill. At that time there were patients infected with COVID-19 in 114 countries. The virus has changed several times in one year as a result of genetic mutations. The disease has become more contagious and deadly in its new forms. The second wave is going on. Despite the invention of the COVID-19 vaccine, the world is still still suffering. In just twelve months after the declaration of the pandemic, 14 crore people in 212 countries around the world have been infected with the virus, and more than 40 lac lives have been lost. 14 April 2021, on the first day of the Bengali New Year, a record 96 people died in our country.
Bangladesh is very active in prevention
On 8 March 2020, the first COVID-19 patient was identified in Bangladesh. However, it is not possible to stop the spread of this virus globally. Therefore, prevention is more important than cure when it comes to COVID-19. There is no other way to stay safe than to stay at a safe distance from an infected person and maintain good hygiene. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the government has taken the following steps:
● Increasing opportunities for COVID-19 testing
● Constructing specialised hospitals
● Increasing number of ICU beds
● Closing all educational institutions
● Canceling all flights abroad
● Declaring a general holiday in the country from 26 March 2020
All kinds of shops and institutions are also closed. But in the case of the port, this isn’t applicable. Ports, including the transportation of medicines and emergency goods, were exempt from the ban.
Chattogram port was alert
At an emergency meeting held at the port building in March last year, it was made mandatory to make an announcement to the captain and agent as soon as a ship was anchored to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to the sea. The master of the ship had to declare as soon as he reached the port that there were no COVID-19 infected sailors on that ship. In addition, ships from other countries would have to remain in quarantine for 14 days after leaving the last port. After reaching the Chattogram port, all of the sailors of the ship would be allowed to enter the port only if they were declared safe after being scanned by the port health officer. Shore passes (city entry passes) were not being issued to foreign sailors of ships which arrived at the port from abroad. At the same time, the opportunity to transfer a sailor of a ship had also been stopped. Efforts are underway to organise online berthing meetings to ensure social distance. However, container feeder ships arriving from Colombo, Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas ports in Malaysia, to the hub of Bangladesh’s containerised goods, are exempt from the 14-day quarantine obligation. At the same time, a medical team under the supervision of the port health officer is on full-time duty at the port immigration desk.
Saif Powertech Limited is the operator of NCT and CCT, the two main terminals for container handling in the port. The company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Capt. Tanvir Hossain said the highest precautionary measures have been taken at the port to prevent COVID-19.People would only be allowed inside the port after measuring their temperature and making sure that they had washed their hands. Most importantly, container handlers were being sprayed with disinfectants all over once they were on the ship, and again when they were off from it. The company had also provided soap, water, hand sanitiser, mask and disinfectant sprays for the employees. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Health jointly prepared the emergency response team by providing special training to port officials and doctors, which is under the overall supervision of the port health officer.
The port ambulance ship was kept ready for the quick transfer of patients from the ship to the hospital. A medical team under the supervision of the port health officer was on full-time duty at the port immigration desk. If any sailor wanted to go out, permission would only be given if a medical screening ensured that he was healthy.
For the safety of the officers / employees of all the departments of the port, hand held thermometers, masks, hand gloves, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), bleaching powder, protective goggles and disinfectant liquid and soap had been provided. To prevent COVID-19, the port fire service sprayed disinfectants at regular intervals in port buildings, adjacent installations, various yards, jetties and residential areas.
Sample collection booths were set up for potential patients at the Chattogram port employees’ council office from 27 May last year. An experienced physician and a pathologist were responsible for collecting the samples. The collected samples were sent to the lab of Chattogram Medical College Hospital for testing and the results obtained were uploaded online on the port’s website.
Dedicated COVID-19 Unit
Despite ensuring maximum security, several officers and employees of all departments including traffic, mechanical and administration of the port were infected. As of April, 18 people had died from being infected by COVID-19. As a result, it is important to ensure the health of the workers as well as proper medical care to keep the port operational. A specialised 50-bed unit for about 40,000 people, including all classes of port workers and their family members, was launched at the port hospital. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated the COVID-19 unit at the Port Hospital on 1 July last year. A total of 159 medical personnel including 13 doctors and 36 nurses have been recruited here. Patients infected by COVID-19 require oxygen support depending on the severity of their health condition. It takes sophisticated equipment to accurately diagnose oxygen levels every second. Severely affected patients need ventilation. With this in mind, uninterrupted high flow oxygen supplier, flowmeter, high flow nasal cannula, oxygen concentrator, ventilator and other medical equipment have been procured for the treatment of infected patients, most of which was funded by the port itself.
The government delegation has already inspected the immunisation facilities at Chattogram Port Hospital and the necessary training has been completed for the doctors and nurses involved in immunisation management. Vaccination has officially started at Chattogram Port Hospital from 12 April, the day after the pilot vaccination programme was conducted at the port hospital. Citizens wishing to be vaccinated at the Port Hospital centre can complete their registration in the Surokkha app or software. The port hospital became a new vaccination centre after the port authority sent a letter to the government’s health department.
COVID-19’s impact on the port
The global economy has already crumbled due to the lockdown, and healthcare in the developed countries of Europe and America has collapsed. But if economic growth is to continue, there is no alternative to keeping the supply chain and the ports active. The lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy is Chattogram port, whose slogan is ‘Country Moves with Us’. The Chattogram port controls 82% of the country’s total imports and 91% of its exports. So the slightest negative impact on the pace of import-export has a huge impact on the economy of the whole country. Officers and employees of all levels of Chattogram port are working non-stop, putting their lives at risk to maintain the normal supply of all kinds of essential commodities. These include medical equipment, raw materials, chemicals, and medicine. Last year, the Chattogram port was open 24 hours a day, even during the general holiday in the country. It’s loading-unloading activities and supply chain was active. In keeping with this, the activities of a number of companies which use the port were also unhalted.
The activities of Chattogram customs involved in customs duty and clearance were also ongoing, but on a limited scale. 26 March 2020, custom house has been fixing the duty only on essential food items, including medicines and certain emergency goods. As a result, container congestion is increasing in Chattogram port. However, the work of customs is also in full swing under the post-government directives. The activities of commercial banks are kept open for three hours a day. Earlier, traders used to release four to four and a half thousand TEU containers full of goods from the port in a day. After the general holiday was declared to ensure social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of deliveries has come down to 500-600 containers daily. The port has even seen days where there were zero deliveries.
The activities of all the departments are being carried out by the people responsible as per the roster during the declared general holidays. From the beginning of the general holiday on 26 March last year, the Chattogram Port Authority had given a complete discount on the store rent facility for all types of containers imported through the port. This discount is due to the fact that most of the companies have had to cut back on their facilities due to general holidays. However, the port authorities withdrew it from 20 April 2020, about a month later, as some importers did not clear the containers from the port within the stipulated time, which increased congestion of containers.
Later, at the request of BGMEA, Chattogram port waived the store rent for the second time only for the raw materials of the readymade garments factory. However, at the request of the port to ensure this facility for all, the Ministry of Shipping considered matter again and approved the discount for all types of goods. In April-May last year alone, Chattogram port provided an incentive of Tk 138 crore to traders and industrialists as the two-store rents were waived due to lockdown in the time of COVID-19. The port suffered two types of losses because of this. Firstly, the revenue income of Tk 138 crore is lesser than anticipated. Secondly, the loss from operating costs for long term storage and maintenance of the products is at least Tk 20 to 30 crore. Moreover, low revenue means low income of the state, because the government gets income tax at the rate of 25% on the income of the port.
Reefer container arrangements in crisis
The reefer container is a large type of deep freezer. These containers are used to transport temperature controlled products such as fruits, ginger, fish, meat, vegetables and in some cases onions, milk, flowers, pharmaceuticals items. After these containers are loaded, they are placed on the ship with an electrical connection. After reaching at the port, the port authority keep the containers electrically connected to keep the goods fresh. Dedicated power supply is required to keep these specialised containers at Chattogram port yard. The port yard has a little over 1,400 electrical plug points for storing refrigerated containers. And the storage capacity in the yard for refrigerated containers is 2,600 TEU. The plug points were allocated rationally when the number of reefer containers in the yard is higher than the number of plug points. After 3-4 hours the plug point is changed and given to another container. The yard’s capacity for storing reefer containers was also exceeded as they were not delivered at their normal speed. Meanwhile, the port authorities announced a 100% store rent waiver on all types of containers as an incentive during the COVID-19 situation, but the delivery of the reefer containers remained slow. Release of containers from ships is also a problem due to the lack of space to keep these specialised containers in the yard. This is because it increases both the disembarking time (leaving the port) and the turnaround time (average stay time).
The lack of cold chain logistics in Chattogram port and adjoining areas became evident in this disaster. Plant Quarantine and Atomic Energy Commission Radiation certification are required for food / agricultural products imported through refrigerators or other containers. Due to lockdown, delivery of such containers was limited as these offices did not provide proper service. The need for Plant Quarantine, Atomic Energy Commission, BSTI and BGMEA offices inside the port was acutely felt at this time.
Simultaneous efforts to overcome the crisis
The container capacity of Chattogram port is 49 thousand and 18 TEU (each 20 feet container is considered as one unit). According to the port, on 14 April 2020, 47 thousand, 413 TEU containers were stored at the port. Special arrangements were also made to store imported containers in some vacant places and overflow yards. On 15 April last year, a letter was sent to the Ministry of Shipping seeking the approval of the National Board of Revenue to remove at least 15,000 to 20,000 TEU containers from the port yard and send them to private inland container depots (ICDs). At the same time, on the instructions of the Ministry of Shipping, an emergency coordination meeting was held on 14 April last year at the Chattogram Circuit House. The port authority, port users, administration, public representatives, and heads of intelligence agencies were present at the meeting. The meeting was attended by the Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram, Chairman of the port, Chattogram Customs House commissioner, City Mayor, two board members (Administration and Planning) and members (Harbour and Marine) of Chattogram port. This meeting served as a turning point in overcoming the stalemate in the port.
Usually 38 types of cargoes imported through Chattogram port are released at private inland container depots (ICDs). As a result of the lockdown, last year on 18 April, the NBR approved the release of six more types of goods and another order on 23 April approved the release of all types of goods in the ICDs. However, this is subject to three conditions. 100% of the containers must be scanned and the scanning report must be stored when transferring to ICDs. The consignment of all commercial goods transferred to of ICDs must be processed on the basis of the report obtained by the Chattogram Custom House, Chattogram and the representatives of the Customs Intelligence and the Department. After 30 June, the order of the National Board of Revenue was automatically revoked, which was not extended.
Visit by the State Minister for Shipping
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury MP and Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury rushed from Dhaka on 23 April to give necessary directions in the new COVID-19 situation. At a press briefing, the State Minister for Shipping and the secretary expressed hope for a 50% reduction in container congestion.
Chattogram port officials have paid one day’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund to prevent COVID-19. The Chattogram Port Authority has handed over a fund of Tk 29 lac 42 thousand and 204 to the bank comprised of one day’s salary of about 6,000 employees from their April salary. Earlier, a one-time grant of Tk 25 crore was given from the port fund through the Ministry of Shipping.
Stable market during COVID-19
At present, each ship in the port has to pay around Tk 8 lac for waiting one extra day, which ultimately affects the consumer. Since the onset of the pandemic, the Chattogram Port Authority has given priority to ships carrying medicines and ginger, garlic and onions to enter the jetty on a priority basis. The port authority took special measures to keep the market price and supply normal during the COVID-19 situation. According to the port’s transport department, ships with at least 150 boxes of goods or 50 boxes or more of one type of goods will be given priority in the case of berthing at the jetty. However, only one ship at a time will get this facility. According to the port authority, in case of multiple ships at the same time, priority is being given on the basis of maximum number of containers.
The Chattogram port has also written to the importers to release the goods as soon as possible to keep the country’s supply chain operational. This is the first time in recent times that an initiative has been taken to send a letter directly to the importers from the port to release the goods. This letter has been given to those who have imported goods lying in the port premises. The port also sent separate letters to Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries, C&F Agents Association, Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association and Bangladesh Fruit Traders Association. Chattogram port sends RL (Removal Letter) to the customs authority to auction the goods which have crossed the designated time during which they can be kept at the port. If the container of consumer goods is left for a long time, the quality of the product diminishes and the commercial price goes down.
Gradually returning to rhythm
The benefits of various initiatives taken to reduce container and ship congestion in the country’s major seaports continue to be found. Container congestion is normal even in the fastest time during lockdown. Till 8 am on Thursday, 30 April 2020, 8 thousand 682 TEU containers were delivered from the port in the previous 48 hours. With the increase in deliveries, the movement of container carrying prime movers, trailers, covered vans and trucks in the port area also increased.
Imports fell the most in April, May and June 2020 as a result of the global effects of COVID-19. However, product handling has been steadily increasing since July. Container handling of imported goods was at 1 lac 26 thousand 808 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) in that month. Then in August 1 lac 26 thousand 803, in September 1 lac 28 thousand 68, in October 1 lac 39 thousand 635 and in November 1 lac 21 thousand 121 TEU containers were handled. From September, the Chattogram port regained its previous momentum in import trade. Chattogram port is ranked 58th in the busiest 100 ports listed by Lloyds last year on the basis of container handling. But the progress of the port has been hindered by the arrival of COVID-19. However, considering the last five years, the port’s container and cargo handling have been growing at an average rate of 9.5 to 10%.
On the other hand, the impact of COVID-19 in handling export goods of Chattogram port was most visible in April and May. In those two months, 14 thousand 744 and 33 thousand 836 TEU containers were handled through Chattogram port respectively. In the next two months, when exports gained some momentum, 52 thousand 149 TEU containers were handled through the port in June and 74 thousand 849 TEUs in July.
Already at new heights
COVID-19’s impact has led to a slump in all types of business, including import-export trade, over the past year. In such a year, Chattogram port has become a part of history for the first time. This month, Chattogram port has gained special recognition as a transit-transshipment port. Nepal’s transit goods have been transported through this port before. However, last July under the formal transit agreement, goods were taken to India by road after being released from this port.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several port officials were infected and lost their lives while working at the field level. Even in such hostile conditions, the port, though small in size, has shown its ability to transport transit and transshipment goods.
The second wave hits
In the first quarter of this year, the private importers started to be active along with the imports of government projects as the industry started operating in the country after shaking off the influence of COVID-19. The port’s import management activities have also been showing a positive picture in the last six months. Export activities have come to a standstill again due to the second and third rounds of lockdowns in various countries around the world, especially in European countries. This has led to an alarming decline in export container handling at Chattogram port.
The second phase of lockdown in the country started from 14 April this year. An office order signed by the Director (Administration) of Chattogram port on 13 April gave a detailed explanation of the coordination and activities between the various departments of the port during the general holidays.
• The Marine Department of Chattogram port will continue the piloting service for the ships arriving at the port as usual. The sailors will be quarantined as per the procedure announced by IMO and WHO before the ship is berthed. In addition, VTMIS and VTSS will be active all the time.
• The Department of Traffic will carry out all the activities of loading and unloading of ships arriving at the port 24/7 as before. The goods will be delivered promptly with minimum manpower, after the clearance given by the customs department.
• Chattogram Port Security Department will supervise all the security related activities of the port.
• The service activities of Chattogram Port Hospital will continue round the clock. The Chief Medical Officer will distribute the roster of doctors and nurses as required. Besides, other facilities like ambulances will be kept ready at all times.
• The Mechanical Department will ensure that all the equipment of the port is kept operational at all times and the required minimum manpower will be kept ready for duty in various workshops. In addition, the required number of ECM drivers will be kept on duty at all times. The use of rented vehicles will be restricted. When the lock-down is over, the mechanical department will schedule and arrange for the transportation of the officers and employees working in different shifts.
• Power Department will ensure 24/7 uninterrupted power supply at all points including operational area inside Chattogram port.
• The fire service team of Chattogram port will be ready to perform their duties 24/7 as usual.
• Port System Analyst will keep CTMS and ICT based facilities operational.
• The Civil Engineering Department will have an emergency response team ready to provide various services. The team’s mobile number, email address etc. will be sent to the Director (Administration), CPA (Chattogram Port Authority).
• To keep the official and operational activities of the port uninterrupted and for administrative purposes, the members of the Port’s Board shall be able to act on behalf of each other.
• The Department of Traffic, Shipping Agents, C&F Agents, Berth Operators, Terminal Operators, Ship Handling Operators and other stakeholders will provide necessary assistance to the Customs Department to expedite the delivery of goods and containers from Chattogram port.
• All department heads will take care of official business through e-filing on urgent matters.
• Director (Administration) and CPA secretary will coordinate the office activities of CPA port building. Arrangements will be made for a minimum number of employees to be present during the holidays. All other employees will not be able to leave the workplace during the specified vacation period i.e. stay at home order will be compulsory. Legal action will be taken if any unauthorised employee is seen roaming in the port building or any other office.
• Director (Security) and Director (Traffic)will keep in touch with Port Health Officer Dr. Md. Motahar Hossain regards to the COVID-19 situation related issues both inside and outside the port (Telephone Number +880654456788). Besides, the emergency department of Chattogram Port Hospital can be contacted on 2520224.
• The Finance Department will make arrangements for regular payment of salaries, gratuities, etc. of all officers and employees.
A special team from the port medical department has been prepared to take care of the COVID-19 infected sailors. At the initiative of Chattogram Port Hospital, various steps have been taken to prevent the transmission of the virus.
There’s still hope
In the beginning, there was a lot of fear, indecision and mismanagement in the treatment of COVID-19. Since the virus was new, much of it was unknown. As a result, many things were not right in the beginning. There is now a growing awareness of hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, wearing masks, and avoiding crowds. With the advent of vaccines, people’s panic has decreased.
Measures to deal with COVID-19 should also be considered as a model for fighting global climate change. Because there is no cure yet, there will be no sudden relief from COVID-19. The words stay home, quarantine, office from home will control our lives for quite some time to come. It can be said with guarantee that the economy will not be the same during and after the global pandemic. In order to ensure the quality of life of the citizens in a middle income country like ours by keeping supply chain operational, there must be a strong coordination between Chattogram port and the port users. Institutions need to be supportive of each other. Everyone should pay attention to speed up the work of the port. It is not enough to only increase the efficiency of the port. The efficiency of other concerned institutions also need to be increased.
This Lead Story is a translated version of an article from the April 2021 issue of ‘Bandarbarta.’
