Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus instructed relevant authorities to expedite discussions with potential foreign investors to enhance the capacity and service standards of Chattogram Port, as part of a broader effort to establish Bangladesh as a regional investment hub.
“We must engage global-standard operators in port management to ensure our ports can compete internationally.
Transforming our ports into world-class facilities is crucial for realising the investment hub vision,” he said during a high-level meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday.
The meeting included senior officials from the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the Chittagong Port Authority, and other related departments.
The Chief Adviser urged all agencies involved to ensure full coordination and complete the required work by August.
BIDA and BEZA Executive Chairman, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, informed the meeting that Bangladesh’s current seaport handling capacity stands at 1.37 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually.
With strategic planning and implementation, this figure could be increased to 7.86 million TEUs within the next five years, he said.
The New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port currently accounts for 1.27 million TEUs, while Mongla Port handles approximately 100,000 units annually. According to Ashik, these figures can be raised to 1.5 million and 630,000 units, respectively.
He added that once the construction of the Patenga Container Terminal, Laldia Container Terminal, Bay Terminal, and Matarbari Deep Sea Port is completed, Bangladesh will have the capacity to handle over five million TEUs annually.
The BIDA chief also updated the Chief Adviser on progress toward accelerating the completion of the Laldia Port, a key project expected to attract substantial foreign investment.
BIDA and the police jointly assured top international investors of comprehensive safety and security measures.
Among those present at the meeting were Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M. Sakhawat Hossain, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohammad Yusuf, 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 Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman.
