The story is like a needle entering and exiting as a thread. Saif Powertech Limited initially entered Chattogram port as a container handling equipment repair company. That company is now the most powerful company in the port after a decade and a half. During the Awami League government, the institution took over the terminal management work of CCT and NCT one by one. Seeing such a high jump of Saif Powertech, many people call them the super power of the port.
Ruhul Amin is the leader of this organization named Saif Powertech Limited, which expanded business by 'managing' Awami League leaders. It has absolute dominance in all three sea ports of the country. Due to political influence and power, no one has spoken about Saif Powertech for so many years, but after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, many people have spoken about the irregularities and corruption of the company. Adviser to Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Jute and Textile Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Shakhawat Hossain visited the port recently and talked about various irregularities of the organization. After that there was a ban against Saif Powertech, the administration also became active.
According to port sources, Saif Powertech has an agreement with Chattogram Port till November 3. After that, there was a demand from the workers' assembly not to enter into a contract with them. At the same time, the labor leaders have also demanded that Saif Powertech be blacklisted in Chattogram port, accusing them of using a section of CBA leaders to destabilize the situation at the port.
Allegations against Saif Powertech:
Prior to 2006, the port authority procured four rail mounted key gantry cranes from Japan's Sumitmo Corporation. Saif Powertech was the local agent for operation and maintenance of Mutant Key Gantry Cranes. Meanwhile, the Saif Power Tech-era at the port began. At that time, the company was accused of changing 12 conditions through the port authority using influence and crossing legal hurdles. It was then discussed that the Chattogram Port Authority had changed its own laws to give special privileges to Saif Powertech for the use of port equipment in CCT management!
The power of Saif Powertech does not end here. In 2006, a company named 'Everest Port Service Limited' submitted a tender for TEUS container handling work at the rate of only 150 taka. Although the lowest bidder did not get the work order, Saif Powertech took the job at a high price. Now per TEUS container handling charges are being charged at the rate of Tk. 900. According to Saif Powertech, from 2007 to July 2024, the company handled 2 crore 10 thousand 739 TEUS containers. A few years ago this rate was 1 thousand 200 taka. The organization was forced to reduce the charges in the face of objections from traders. As per the current charges, for container handling in 17 years, an additional charge of Tk. 750 per TEUS container handling has been taken over the lowest bidder. As such, the company has earned more than one and a half thousand crore takas from container handling alone.
Saif Powertech took over the work of four jetties at NCT Terminal in 2015. After getting this job, the sole dominance of the company was established in the port. The company is handling at least 70 percent containers every year using DPM (Direct Procurement Method). Although it started as a machinery repair company, the company later took on one job after another. Allegedly, Saif Powertech established this rule in the port by assigning work to three former members of parliament of Awami League and a top leader of Awami League.
According to international regulations, terminal operators at ports are supposed to provide their own equipment for container handling. But Chattogram port does not have that rule. By exploiting this opportunity, Saif Powertech has established its authority by using the port's equipment. This institution has influence in other ports of the country as well.
Saif Powertech was also using illegal and unfastened vehicles in sensitive places like ports. Chattogram district administration and BRTA found 60 such vehicles in an operation recently. Later, 10 of their trailer vehicles were fined Tk. 3 lakh on this complaint.
During the Awami League government, the authority of Saif Power Tech was established in the port, but now there are allegations that efforts are being made to prove that Ruhul Amin Tarafdar was not a member of the fallen Awami League. However, businessmen and labor leaders say that Saif Powertech has changed colors and is trying to stay in the good eye of the interim government and the future government.
Labor leaders demand cancellation of contract:
Last week, the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal held a protest rally and rally in front of Chattogram Port Building. The labor leaders warned that not even an inch of the port will be allowed to go to foreign or private companies, including canceling the contract with Saif Powertech.
If asked, Acting General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (former CBA) Md. Humayun Kabir said, "Saif Powertech has an agreement with Chattogram Port till November 3. After that no contract can be made with them. At the same time Saif Powertech should be blacklisted at Chattogram port. They want to destabilize Chattogram Port through a CBA leader. We will not let them realize this hope.
Active Administration:
Shipping Advisor to Ministry and Ministry of Jute and Textile Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Shakhawat Hussain visited the port recently. After the visit, he spoke to reporters about the port tour at the NCT-3 jetty of the port on October 8. Then he said, 'There have been many irregularities here (at Chattogram port). It will take all day to say that. Many have been licensed. They are someone's uncle, brother or uncle. All this is under our control. A lot of work is done unfairly here. We have to clear this port of garbage.
Chattogram district administration and BRTA went on a raid there immediately after this strong position of the adviser of the ministry of shipping and the ministry of jute and textile regarding irregularities. Their operation caught the free movement of unregistered vehicles of Saif Powertech inside Chattogram Port, one of the most important facilities of the country. The government has lost a huge amount of revenue on these vehicles over the years.
An official who participated in the operation said, "60 unregistered heavy vehicles of Saif Powertech were caught while moving inside the port. By registering one such vehicle, the government would get government revenue of at least Taka two lakh. Apart from this, every year the government got at least Tk. 70 thousand revenue from each vehicle due to fitness and tax token and income tax. But being close to the Awami League government, no one dared to conduct an operation against Saif Powertech. That is why the government has not received a single taka of revenue even though these vehicles have been running for years without registration.
However, to know about these complaints, the Managing Director of Saif Powertech Tarafdar Md. Ruhul Amin was contacted but could not be found. An official of the organization said on the condition of anonymity, around the election of Bangladesh Football Federation Ruhul Amin has been busy in Dhaka for several days.