Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to quickly conclude talks with potential foreign investors aiming to increase the capacity of Chattogram port and ensure world-class services to port users.
He came up with the directives at a high-level meeting with officials of the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and other relevant entities at the State Guest House Jamuna here this evening.
The Chief Adviser said efficient operators should be engaged in port management so that the country’s ports can attain the capacity to compete in the international market.
“We have to make our ports world-class to establish the investment hub we are talking about,” he added.
BIDA and BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun told the meeting that the current handling capacity of Bangladesh’s seaports is 1.37 million units per year, which can be increased to 7.86 million units in the next five years through proper planning and actions.
He said currently the capacity of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong port is to handle 1.27 million units per year, while the Mongla port’s capacity is 0.1 million units.
Their capacities can be increased to 1.5 million units and 0.63 million units respectively, he added.
Ashik said once the construction of Patenga Container Terminal, Laldia Container Terminal, Bay Terminal and Matarbari Deep Sea Port is completed, Bangladesh will have a handling capacity of more than five million units.
He informed the Chief Adviser of the overall progress of construction of the Laldia port.
Prof Yunus urged all the agencies concerned to complete the works by August with coordination.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Shipping Senior Secretary Mohammed Yousuf, Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) Muhammad Rafiqul Islam and CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman were present at the meeting, among others.
