Coast guards, port security men on high alert

Such a security measure followed the order issued from the higher authorities in the government against the backdrop of the biggest ever haul of smuggled weapons at the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Ltd. (CUFL) jetty on April 2, they said.

"As per the directive we have ensured round-the-clock patrolling in the river Karnaphuli and around its estuary. Our security men on board the patrol boats are keeping a watch on the movement of all kinds of water crafts and cargo vessels calling here," Col Shahid Sarwar, director (Security) of Chittagong port, said.

"Besides, a newly procured speed boat moves in the mid-river regularly to challenge suspicious operation of any fishing trawler, mechanised boats and vessels," he added. Security was tightened in and around port jetties following the arms haul, he said.

"We are trying to procure few more high speed boats for patrolling in the river," he said.

"We have almost sealed off the river Karnaphuli and its surrounding areas to thwart movement of watercrafts carrying smuggled goods," said a coast guards official on condition of anonymity. "We have stepped up patrolling in and around the river Karnaphuli in a bid to mount surveillance," he added.

The shipping ministry and authorities concerned reportedly expressed concern over the security arrangement in the river Karnaphuli and port channel with the seizure of the consignment of deadly weapons carried by two fishing trawlers to CUFL jetty dodging the surveillance of port, customs and coast guards sources said.

The trawlers were able to anchor at the riverside jetty with smuggled weapons due to surveillance lapses and lax monitoring system.

Mysteriously, the anti-smuggling rummage team of Chittagong customs house spends their time idly without launching any drive at the outer anchorage and high sea, sources said.

Officials of customs house said, the drive could not be launched as the two patrol boats used by the rummage team remained out of order for long.

Meanwhile, police are yet to arrest Din Mohammad, Hafizur Rahman and Sobhan Haji involved with the offloading of the weapons at CUFL jetty.