State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, MP has said that the Chittagong port has already become a regional hub. He said this while speaking as the Chief Guest at the roundtable organised by The Business Standard titled ‘How Chattogram Port can be turned into a regional hub’ at its Eskaton offices on Sunday.
Shipping minister said, ‘We are in the middle of the East and the West. Cox’s Bazar Airport will become a regional hub. Matarbari Deep Sea Port will also soon become a regional hub. I have already started working towards this.’
Vice president of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association Khairul Alam Sujon presented the keynote paper.
Speaking at the roundtable, Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority, said, at the current capacity, the port can release a ship within 48 hours. But this will require assistance of the relevant parties, including customs and freight forwarders. The chairman also said the customs introduced automation in certain areas.
Presided over by Inam Ahmed, Editor of The Business Standard, the roundtable was moderated by TBS Executive Editor Sharier Khan.
Spoke among others at the roundtable were Md Zafar Alam, member (Admin & Planning), Chittagong Port Authority, Kabir Ahmed, president, Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, Mohammad Hatem, executive president, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Syed Mohammad Arif, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, CCCI director Anjan Shekhar Das, Ainul Islam, general secretary, Bangladesh Economic Association and Captain Kamrul Islam Mazumder, director, Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association.
