Insecure ports

That is cause for great concern. Not only is the shipping industry threatened by the criminal activities, the country's image is also damaged when its ports become unsafe for foreign ships. The costs of shipping go up when ships have to carry an extra number of security men when they enter our ports. It is a reflection on the security arrangements at our ports.

While the problem might be an offshoot of the overall lawlessness in the country, it deserves far sterner handling, as criminal-infested ports are bound to have a negative impact on the export-import business. Viewed from that angle, it should not take much time for the decision-makers to realise that the activities of the criminals are being allowed to undermine normal functioning of the ports which amounts to obstructing or causing harm to trade and commerce. Is this an acceptable proposition?

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There must be some areas where lawlessness cannot have any place. We simply cannot afford to allow the ports to become happy hunting grounds for looters and robbers. The Daily Star account of the modus operandi of the criminals makes it amply clear how they are taking advantage of poor surveillance. But it defies understanding as to why the law enforcers seem powerless to do anything to dislodge them.

However, the criminals have to be dislodged in the larger interest of shipping and business. The decision-makers have to come out of their chrysalis of academic thinking and planning only. The situation calls for drastic action against the criminals, which the government must take immediately.