Dwaipayan Barua

In a bid to maintain the country's oil supply, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is set to resume the transportation of crude oil from mother vessels to the Eastern Refinery within one to two days by chartering a foreign oil tanker.

Workers postponed strike

Although the steel industry is crucial for developing modern economies, Bangladesh was completely devoid of one until the year 1952.

A recently formulated policy for transporting imported cargoes from Chattogram to different parts of the country has failed to be enforced thanks to strong opposition from importers and vessel owners, as they accused the system of posing threats to monopolise control over vessel serials and fares.

Transportation of imported cargo from the Chattogram port to different parts of the country through inland water routes may face disruptions as disputes among lighter vessel owners' organisations over managing the trade has intensified.

The interim government will review the Bay Terminal project, the biggest expansion project in the Chattogram port's history.

Businesses are losing interest in transporting containerised cargo to and from Chattogram port via Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) on the Buriganga river in the capital's Keraniganj thanks to its high inland water transport costs, lengthy customs clearance and other obstacles.

Container ships are being able to berth and load and unload cargo faster upon arrival at the Chattogram port nowadays, thanks to the gradual easing of an acute congestion that had been created in July and August.

There has been a significant year-on-year rise in the number of containers handled at Chattogram port in the three months till October while there was a drop in the overall handling of cargo and ships.

Tea is fetching higher prices at weekly auctions this year, with market players saying the imposition of a minimum price threshold and low supply of the cash crop are key factors for the rise.