ACC conducts drive at CPA office over alleged artificial crisis, price hike of essentials

An enforcement team of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Integrated District Office, Chattogram-1, conducted a drive at the office of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) yesterday following allegations that importers deliberately delayed unloading essential food items at the port to create an artificial shortage and raise prices during Ramadan.

The allegations include keeping goods on lighter vessels for long periods and using them as floating warehouses in rivers and the sea instead of unloading them, with an alleged intent to manipulate supply, according to an ACC press release.

During the drive, the ACC team visited the office of the CPA chairman and reviewed relevant records in connection with the complaints. 

According to the ACC, the operation was carried out amid allegations that disruptions in the unloading and transportation of essential commodities were being created intentionally to exploit increased demand during Ramadan.

As part of the drive, the enforcement team examined compliance with a directive issued earlier by the Department of Shipping. On 9 September 2025, the director general of the Department of Shipping issued an official letter (Memo No-713) to the CPA chairman, stating that no local agent or cargo agent should be allowed to operate at Chattogram seaport without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department.

The directive aimed to ensure transparent, uninterrupted and orderly transportation of goods from the seaport and adjacent areas by bringing local agents and cargo agents under a legal framework.

However, the director general of the Department of Shipping later confirmed that the Chittagong Port Authority has not been obtaining NOCs from the department in line with the directive.

To examine whether appropriate steps were taken following the issuance of the letter, the ACC team collected statements from officials of the Chittagong Port Authority, including representatives from the offices of the deputy traffic manager (operation), harbour master and deputy conservator.

The enforcement team sought explanations from the responsible authorities, under existing laws and regulations, regarding alleged ambiguities in the control and monitoring of lighterage vessels used for transporting goods.

After reviewing the collected records and statements, the enforcement team said it would submit a report to the commission at the earliest.

The ACC said further action would depend on the findings of the investigation.