Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said that foreign management is necessary to bring Chittagong Port up to international standard. "We want to take the port towards development," he added.
He said this while inaugurating the Laldia Char Container Yard in Patenga on Monday morning. Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman and senior officials from the Ministry of Ports and Shipping were present.
The adviser said, "Many will talk a lot about the port. To improve, we need technology, money, and skills. Four to five billion dollars will be invested in the port area. In developed countries, most port operators are foreign. Why should we lag behind? That's why we are also trying. Laldia's Char Terminal is a big opportunity for businesses, as the capacity to store 10,000 containers will increase."
He said the Laldia Char Terminal has been built on 14 acres of land, with a capacity to store 1,500 trucks. The heavy lift cargo jetty will have a backup on 8 acres, and the APM terminal area is 10 acres.
Regarding the increase in port tariffs, the adviser said, "Before increasing the tariffs, we talked to all the port's stakeholders, including traders and workers. The port had been running for 40 years on the 1984 tariff. After 40 years, the port updated its tariff. Even then, since there have been complaints from traders, we will request the port authority to review the matter."
The adviser also inaugurated the transport terminal and the Taltala Container Yard (adjacent to East Colony) in the Bay Terminal area, and inspected the XY Shed and Customs Auction Shed.
