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Chittagong port piracy reaches critical levels

PIRACY in and around Chittagong, Bangladesh's main port, is believed to have reached critical levels. According to the Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre, operated by the International Maritime Bureau, more than 30 attacks occurred between Januar y and September, and the complaints of more attacks are still being reported. There were 23 attacks last year. The shippers and shipping lines have been told to take extra precautions while making for the port or sailing out of it.

Conceding that the situation was very bad, a spokesman for Chittagong Port said the Bangladeshi coast guard did not have the resources to cope with the growing menace in Bangladeshi waters. But steps were being taken to tackle the problem firmly and thes e included strengthening the coast guard, providing it with more patrol boats and establishing better coordination among concerned agencies such as the port authorities, the navy and the coast guard. The ships plying the area might also be requested to a llow armed security personnel on board to protect the cargoes and vessels from probable attacks. -- Our Bureau