In a coordinated effort to enhance port safety and environmental protection, authorities have safely destroyed 19 containers of Dangerous Goods (DG) that had remained unattended for years at Chattogram Port.
The two-day operation, conducted on 25 and 26 October, was carried out under strict supervision and in full compliance with environmental regulations.
It was overseen by an inter-agency committee led by Mohammad Nurullah Nuri, additional divisional commissioner (general), Chattogram Division.
Representatives from the Department of Environment, Department of Explosives, DGFI, NSI, Chittagong Port Authority, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, and Chattogram Customs House were present during the destruction process.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the operation began at 9am on Saturday and continued uninterrupted until 9:30pm on Sunday.
Members of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Ansar, and local police ensured safety and provided logistical support throughout the operation.
The destroyed items included 16 containers of uncoated calcium carbonate, one of orange emulsion, one of sweet whey powder, and one of skimmed milk powder.
Officials said the consignments had deteriorated over time, posing serious safety and environmental risks to the port area.
Authorities confirmed that the destruction was carried out using environmentally safe methods to prevent chemical contamination or fire hazards.
This initiative follows a similar operation in October 2024, when the Chattogram Customs House and Chittagong Port Authority jointly removed and destroyed four containers of highly flammable hazardous cargo that had been stored at the port for nearly 14 years.
To address long-standing container congestion, the NBR has also directed the auction of thousands of unclaimed containers at the port.
So far, around 6,069 containers – equivalent to about 10,000 TEUs – have been inventoried for disposal, with a significant portion already auctioned off.
The NBR expressed confidence that ongoing auction and clearance operations, led by the Chattogram Customs House, will ease container congestion and improve overall port efficiency.
Officials reiterated that, in the interest of public safety and environmental protection, the destruction of hazardous and dangerous goods containers left unattended at the port will continue on a priority basis with the active support of all relevant agencies.
