Record container, cargo handling: Ctg port, shipping ministry employees to get Tk60,000 incentive bonus each
Distributing state treasury funds in this manner is illegal, the Socheton Nagorik Committee says
The government has approved a one-time special incentive bonus for officers and employees of the port and shipping ministry, recognising record container and cargo handling at Chattogram Port in 2024.
Each eligible employee will receive Tk60,000 as a productivity bonus, totaling Tk30.69 crore.
The Ministry of Shipping approved the bonus, which will be disbursed from the Chattogram Port Authority's (CPA) own funds.
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CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk confirmed the approval and stated that over 4,100 CPA employees and around 180 from the shipping ministry will receive the payment before Eid.
The decision follows the port's record performance, handling 32,75,627 TEUs of containers and 12,39,86,014 tons of cargo in 2024, reflecting a 7.42% and 3.11% growth from 2023, respectively.
According to Chattogram Port data, the port's revenue surged to Tk5,055.99 crore, a 21.39% increase from the previous year, while revenue surplus rose by 37.60% to Tk2,948.97 crore.
Additionally, revenue expenditure for 2024 was Tk2,107.02 crore, marking a 4.20% decrease from the previous year's Tk2,202.08 crore.
However, civil society representatives criticised the incentive. Advocate Akhtar Kabir, president of the Chattogram chapter of Socheton Nagorik Committee, argued that distributing state funds in this manner is inappropriate, as port employees already receive salaries and bonuses.
He warned that this move could set a precedent for other institutions seeking similar benefits.
Despite concerns, the CPA is set to proceed with the disbursement, citing the port's outstanding financial and operational achievements from 1 January to 31 December 2024.
