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Installation of the much talked-about full-proof scanning devises at the country's seaports and the central container depot hangs in the balance.
Even after one-and-a-half years of its commitment, the government has hardly done anything for installation of such scanners, keeping the security system in the export-import hubs vulnerable as ever, sources said.
"There is little possibility of installing scanning machines at the export-import points as it would not be possible in the near future as we have still many formalities to complete for purchasing such modern equipment," said an official.
He also admitted that the installation process was being delayed due to some problems including paucity of fund coupled with bureaucratic tangles for the costly project.
Official sources, however, said the government a few months ago made a formal request to the US government, seeking the latter's support for the project, an official source said.
But the government is yet to get any response from the US government, a senior official said, adding, "we are still hoping that the US authority would extend its support for the project."
The government will seek support from other development partners for executing the project, if no favourable response is received from the US government, the official added.
Earlier, an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Finance and Planning Minister Saifur Rahman decided to install six modern scanning devises at the country's two seaports, the ICD (inland container depot) at Kamlapur and Benapole landport in two phases.
As per the decision, three such scanners - two at Chittagong seaport and another at Kamlapur - were supposed to be installed by December, 2003 while three others were scheduled to be set up in July 2004.
The total installation cost of six scanning machines, having two units each, was estimated earlier between Tk 4.0 billion and Tk 5.0 billion, according to sources.
The main purpose of installation of scanning devises is to prevent shipment of illegal arms and narcotic items against the backdrop of growing terrorist activities across the globe.
Another important purpose of the initiative was to check false declarations of both exportable and imported goods, sources added.
Besides, the government had also formed a four-member committee, headed by the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), to deal with the implementation process of the said project.
The committee also comprised representatives from the Chittagong Port Authority, the customs department and the NSI, according to official sources.
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