Chittagong port, the prime seaport of the country, is going to get six modern container scanners at its jetty gates soon.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will purchase the scanners with the aim of boosting export-import trade.
To this end, the NBR signed an agreement with Nuctech Company Limited, a partially state-owned Chinese security inspection products company, on January 04.
Sources said port jetties have currently 12 gates. Of them, there are six scanners at six gates.
The gates are General Cargo Berth (GCB) gate, New-mooring Container Terminal gate, and Chittagong Container Terminal gates 02, 03, 04 and 05.
There are also mobile scanners at CCT gate-02 and GCB gate.
The Chattogram Customs House (CCH) used to conduct physical tests at the remaining gates.
Five scanners are old as they were installed in 2009. However, two mobile scanners were installed in 2017.
Sources said the new scanners will be added to the existing scanners of the CCH.
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) said installing scanners is the customs authority's responsibility.
According to sources, the scanners will reduce security threats, prevent smuggling, develop export-import capacity and also preserve public health.
CCH officials said the revenue board has recently made an initiative to purchase 14 new scanning machines. Funds would be given as per the port's requirement.
Mahbubul Alam, president of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said export-import trade through the port is increasing every year.
nazim07@yahoo.com