In a stark revelation of supply chain inefficiencies and suspected market manipulation, an executive magistrate at Chattogram Port discovered lighterage vessels laden with wheat that have been languishing in the Karnaphuli River for over a month. During a mobile court operation conducted on Thursday, officials found that several vessels had failed to discharge their cargo, effectively turning the river into a floating warehouse.
The Floating Deadlock
The operation, led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin aboard the pilot vessel Dishari-6, intercepted the lighter ship MV Al Aswad-2 at Sadarghat. Upon questioning, the vessel’s master, Nazrul Islam, revealed a startling situation: “We have been floating with this wheat for 34 days. The importer is not discharging the cargo, and I have no inkling of when they will.”
The vessel had taken on approximately 1,900 tonnes of wheat from a larger mother vessel on 25 December last year. A similar story emerged from the MV Al-Wahab, which has been anchored since 31 December with 2,400 tonnes of wheat. Despite a previous fine of 20,000 BDT issued on 15 January, the vessel remained stationary, with the crew claiming they were entirely dependent on the importer’s instructions.
Regulatory Crackdown and Fines
Magistrate Afrin emphasised that according to port regulations, lighter vessels are permitted a maximum of three days to discharge their cargo after receiving it from mother vessels. The prolonged stays—some exceeding 30 days—are viewed by authorities as a deliberate attempt to create an artificial crisis in the commodity market.
| Vessel Name | Cargo Type | Tonnage | Days Stranded |
| MV Al Aswad-2 | Wheat | 1,900 | 34 Days |
| MV Al-Wahab | Wheat | 2,400 | 30 Days |
| Combined 9 Vessels | Various | N/A | Variable |
During the day-long drive, the mobile court penalised nine lighterage vessels, imposing a collective fine of 220,000 BDT.
Combatting Artificial Scarcity
The timing of these delays is particularly sensitive. Lt. Commander Syed Sajjadur Rahman, Deputy Director (Security) of the Port, noted that the crackdown is part of a broader “combing operation” to prevent hoarding ahead of Ramadan. By keeping essential goods afloat rather than releasing them into the market, importers can manipulate prices upward—a practice the port authority is determined to quash.
“We will not allow any importer to hold the market hostage by using lighter ships as storage units,” Magistrate Afrin told reporters. The Port Authority has warned that legal action will escalate if importers do not move their cargo to warehouses immediately.