Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, said that once the construction of the cargo terminal at Ashuganj Port in Brahmanbaria is completed, the port's capacity will increase, along with the expansion of trade via waterways.
The Advisoer came up with the assertion while talking to the journalists after inspecting the progress of the cargo terminal construction at Ashuganj Port on Monday.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is constructing the new cargo terminal at the port with funding from the World Bank. The new terminal will have three jetties and storage sheds, along with other infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed by next year.
The Adviser said that Ashuganj Port has been chosen as a hub for cargo terminal construction. Previously, it was not a fully operational port. Once the terminal is built, it will enhance trade through waterways. There are various government and private sector projects and institutions, including silos, here.
He also mentioned that the need for a cargo terminal in Ashuganj had been felt for a long time. He added that when the World Bank provides funding, it does so after thorough evaluation. They only fund projects they deem profitable.
Chairman of BIWTA, Arif Ahmed Mostafa, the Director of Ashuganj Cargo Terminal Project, Ayub Ali, the Superintendent of Police of Brahmanbaria, Jabedur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, Jesmin Sultana, and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ashuganj, Shyamal Chandra Basak, among others were present at that time.
