Final logistic policy by next month

Business Report :

The National Logistics Policy is nearing completion, with two committee meetings already held in his chair, said Mohammad Yousuf, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping on Sunday.
“We hope to finalise the policy within a month,” he told a roundtable at a Dhaka city hotel on Sunday. The event, titled “Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward in Shipping & Logistics Landscape”, was organised by The Financial Express.
Mr Yusuf, the chief guest of the event, also noted that a decision has been taken to establish a logistics hub in Chattogram, integrating road and rail links.
The senior secretary warned of Bangladesh’s weak FDI inflows. “In 2023, we attracted only $3 billion, while India drew $40 billion and Vietnam $18 billion,” he said.
He added that the profits earned by foreign investors were not being reinvested in Bangladesh but rather being repatriated.
MdMamunHabib, Professor, Independent University, Bangladesh, delivered the keynote address.Dr Ahmed Ullah, Director General, Chief Adviser’s Office, also spoke at the event, attending as the special guest.
Furthermore, at the same event,Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Mohammad Hatem has saidinstead of opposing the decision to appoint foreign operator to increase port management efficiency in the country, businesses should welcome it.
He feels it will open an opportunity to learn the know-how of modern technology and international standard port management for the local operators.
Mohammad Hatem came up with the remarks at a seminar on challenges and prospects of the logistic sector.
Expressing frustration over the sudden decision to increase the surcharge at the Chittagong Port by 40 per cent, the BKMEA president said, “The port authority is a service providing agency. It is quite unreasonable to increase surcharges at such a high level without any prior discussion or logical explanation.”
“Why does a government have to make big profits?” he questioned.
Mohammad Hatem stressed on the significance of filling the infrastructural deficiencies to achieve the export target saying, “The bay terminal needs to be launched quickly. If we can use 100 per cent of the capability of the Mongla and Payra ports, it is possible to achieve the export target of USD 100 billion per year.”
The BKMEA president further said not only the port management, there should be improvement in several factors including gas and power crisis, uninterrupted fuel supply and law and order. There are no alternatives to those to grow exports, he added.