DE News Desk :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed authorities to expedite discussions with prospective foreign investors to enhance the capacity of Chattogram Port and ensure world-class services for users.
He issued the directive during a high-level meeting held on Tuesday evening at the State Guest House Jamuna.
The meeting was attended by top officials from the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), and other relevant bodies.
Emphasizing the importance of efficiency, Prof Yunus stated that competent operators must be engaged in port management to enable Bangladesh’s ports to compete globally.
“We must transform our ports to world-class standards to support our vision of becoming a regional investment hub,” he said.
BIDA and BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun highlighted that the current container handling capacity of Bangladesh’s seaports stands at 1.37 million units annually.
With appropriate planning and implementation, this can rise to 7.86 million units within the next five years.
According to him, the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port currently handles 1.27 million units per year, while Mongla Port manages around 0.1 million.
With planned upgrades, their capacities could reach 1.5 million and 0.63 million units respectively.
Ashik further noted that once the Patenga Container Terminal, Laldia Container Terminal, Bay Terminal, and Matarbari Deep Sea Port are completed, Bangladesh’s total port handling capacity will exceed five million units annually.
He also briefed the Chief Adviser on the progress of the Laldia port construction.
In response, Prof Yunus urged all relevant agencies to work in coordination and complete all necessary tasks by August.
Among those present at the meeting were Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (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, Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) CEO Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, and CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman.