State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday said digital services will be launched in all land ports of the country in phases with the aim of building a smart Bangladesh.
He said the land ports of our country will also become smart ports one day like various ports in the developed world.
The state minister made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of Bhomra e-port management system at Bhomra land port in Satkhira district in the morning.
Khalid Mahmudsaid with the inauguration of Bhomra Land Port Digitalisation Programme by Bangladesh Land Port Authority, the land ports have taken a step forward with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to build a developed and prosperous smart Bangladesh.
The state minister said automation has already been introduced at Benapole and Burimari land ports to make the land port services paperless. Besides infrastructure development of Bhomra land port, digital capability is being enhanced there.
He also said projects are being funded by the government and development cooperation organisations to bring the land ports under modernisation and automation.
Funded by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF), the digitalisation programme was being implemented at the Bhomraland port at a cost of around Tk 9 crore. It will play a major role in keeping the supply of goods with the neighbouring countries operational, he said.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Md Zillur Rahman presided over the opening ceremony organised by Bangladesh Land Port Authority and Swisscontact Bangladesh.
Former Health Minister Member Dr AFM Ruhul Haque MP, Ashrafuzzaman Ashu MP, Laila Parveen Sejuti MP, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Matiur Rahman Siddiqui, Director of Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (Virtual) Philip Islam and Country Director of Swisscontact Bangladesh Mujibul Hasan, among others, spoke at the programme. Officials and business leaders of the land port were also present.
Later, the state minister visited Basantapur river port inKaliganj upazila.
