In a significant breakthrough, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has handed over a cheque of Tk 100 crore to the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) as part of its long-overdue municipal tax payment. This marks a major success for Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, who assumed office just five and a half months ago.
On Wednesday afternoon, Rear Admiral SM Muniruzzaman, Chairman of the CPA, officially presented the cheque to Mayor Shahadat Hossain. The handover ceremony was attended by CPA Member (Harbor & Marine) Ahmed Amin Abdullah, CPA Secretary Md. Omar Faruk, as well as CCC Chief Revenue Officer Sarwar Kamal and Chief Accounts Officer Humayun Kabir Chowdhury.
According to CCC sources, the port authority has owed municipal taxes amounting to Tk 160.16 crore since a reassessment in 2017. However, until now, the CPA had been paying only Tk 45 crore annually, leading to a revenue loss of Tk 115 crore per year for the city corporation.
Despite previous mayors failing to fully realize this tax amount, Mayor Shahadat took decisive action shortly after taking office. He sent formal letters to the port authority demanding payment. When initial attempts were ignored, he escalated the matter to the Ministry of Shipping.
Following his appeal, the ministry issued a directive on April 6, signed by Deputy Secretary Nazrul Islam Azad, permitting the CPA to release Tk 100 crore based on recommendations by a joint survey committee, pending final adjustments.
“This fund will help us improve urban infrastructure and expand essential services,” said Mayor Shahadat. “We already provide over Tk 70 crore annually in subsidies for basic needs like education and healthcare. From the beginning of my tenure, I prioritized increasing revenue to ensure uninterrupted civic services.”
During the event, the mayor and CPA chairman also discussed upgrading the city’s road network, especially areas affected by port operations. At the chairman’s request, the mayor instructed CCC’s Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman to take immediate action to repair damaged roads around the port.
Mayor Shahadat reaffirmed CCC’s commitment to supporting the port’s continued operations, stating, “We are ready to assist the port authority in every possible way to ensure smoother logistics and urban harmony.”
