Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said on Wednesday that the Interim Government had taken initiatives to turn Chittagong Port into world class by inviting top global port management companies.
The Chief Adviser revealed the plan while speaking at the New Mooring Container Terminal of the Chittagong Port in the first event of his daylong tour in Chittagong, when he was briefed about the port capacity.
“It will be big opportunity for us,” said the Chief Adviser, adding that once the government plans are materialised it will improve the economy of the country and create jobs for thousands of people.
“If we have to change the economy of Bangladesh, Chittagong Port is the hope. Without it, there is no alternative,” he said.
Calling the Chittagong Port the heart of Bangladesh’s economy, the Chief Adviser said, “If the heart is weak, no physician could make it function better. This is why we have to make it world-class.”
“They (top global port management firms) were called earlier, but there was no meaningful progress,” he said.
“This heart has to be connected with neighbors, that is why I said about Nepal, Seven Sisters (seven northeastern sister of India). If they are connected to it, they will be benefited and so will be us. Those who will not be connected will be the losers,” he said.
Recalling his childhood memory with Chittagong Port, the Chief Adviser said he was waiting for this visit.
“Chittagong Port is not a new place to me. I am familiar with it since my childhood. It has changed a lot over the years, but it’s sad to see that its changes are slow. Since I got a chance, from day one I was trying to see what could be done for it,” he said.
“The world has moved a lot, and we are lagging a lot behind. Nobody cares about it. This is why I was pushing for change.
I asked to hand over the charge of port handling to world’s top operators. I hope everyone would realise it,” he said.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Shakwat Hossain lauded Chief Adviser’s eagerness to improve the port facilities in Chittagong.
He said that the construction of several terminals surrounding the Chittagong port would ease container congestion.
“I hope within six months you will notice the change,” he said.
Chittagong Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman laid the emphasis on mordernisation of Chittagong port, saying that it handles 92 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign trade and 98 percent of this trade is handled by New Mooring Container Terminal.
There is no alternative available to it at the moment, he said, adding that due to natural reasons ship above a length of 200 meters cannot anchor in Chittagong Port. Due to this, Bangladesh suffers a loss of around 1 million (DOLLARS or TAKA) a day, he said, quoting a World Bank Study.
