CHITTAGONG, July 03: Loading and unloading of cargo has remained suspended at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong seaport due to incessant rain triggered by the influence of the monsoon.
Loading and unloading of cargo in the port jetties was going on as usual while the delivery of cargoes from the port was also normal, port sources said.
The Chittagong city and its adjoining areas recorded 162mm rainfall since Sunday night till 12:00 noon on Monday, Met Office said.
Port officials said handling of bulk cargo at the outer anchorage, including wheat, pulses, sugar, urea, clinker and salt has remained suspended since Sunday night.
As many as 35 vessels along with bulk cargoes were waiting at the outer anchorage in the deep sea at Kutubdia while one vessel laden with wheat was waiting in the port jetty until rain stopped, sources said.
Sources further said loading and unloading continued in 16 vessels in the jetties on Monday. Of them, 12 were container vessels while four others carried cars and stones.
Mahbub Rashid, executive director of Water Transport Cell that controls booking of most lightering vessels for off-loading cargoes from mother vessels at the outer anchorage, said lightering activities at outer anchorage remained suspended due to incessant rain.
Member (admin and planning) of the Chittagong Port Authority Zafar Alam said port operational activities were not usual during the recent Eid vacation despite non-stop delivery of containers by the port authority.
This caused delay in exporting goods especially products of the exporters of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) during the recent Eid vacation, he said.
Giving a delivery picture of containerised cargo during the Eid vacation, the CPA spokesperson said the port delivered 353 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent unit) of containers on June 25, 588 TEUs on June 27, 713 TEUs on June 28, 1948 TEUs on June 29, 1980 TEUs on June 30 and 1431 TEUs on July 01.
Meanwhile, a retired government official drowned in rainwater while he was returning home after attending a marriage ceremony in the city on Sunday night.
Shilabrata Barua Swapan (60) was returning from Royal Garden Community Centre at Mohammad Ali Road near Dampara Police Line. He waded through knee-deep water to get on a car of the bridal party to reach home around 1:30 am, Bakolia police said.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the police station Pranab Chowdhury said the old man proceeded a few yards from the community centre and was washed away by strong flow of water at dead of night. A woman saw him drowning but none could trace him.
After getting information from the local people, the police recovered the body from Chaktai Khal near Kalameah Bazar under Bakolia around 11:30 am on Monday.
Later, Shanto Barua, son of the victim, identified his father at the police station. He said his father went to attend a marriage ceremony of their relative and washed away by strong flow of water.
Shanto said his father was a government accounts officer and retired from his last workplace at Kaukhali upazila of Rangamati hill district. He was residing with the family at Mirzapore village under Hathazari police station.  
Due to incessant rain for the two days, sufferings of the people in the port city mounted. Most parts of the city inundated with rainwater went under knee-deep to waist-deep water.
Many schoolchildren and female teachers and office-going people were seen wading through knee-deep water due to shortage of vehicles.
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Source: The Financial Express