Ctg custom begins disposal of 151 tonnes of hazardous chemicals

Chattogram Custom House has begun disposing of 151 tonnes of expired and hazardous chemicals that had remained in nine containers at Chattogram port for years.

Vehicles carrying the chemicals left the port under police escort yesterday morning.

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The chemicals, including acid and acid-based substances, had been lying at the port since 2003 and subsequent years, posing risks to port security and the environment and contributing to container congestion.

Md Rasel Ahmed, assistant commissioner of Chattogram Custom House, said the chemicals had not been cleared after import and had remained in the port yard for an extended period. The consignment includes 25.55 tonnes of sulphuric acid, 500kg of nitric acid, 92.54 tonnes of methanol and 32.30 tonnes of thinner, he added.

Rasel said the chemicals were being disposed of through Wata Chemicals Ltd in Narayanganj, following recommendations from the Bangladesh National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention and an initiative by the destruction committee.