Mohammad Ali Hridoy, Ctg: We are working on our future plans to bring ChittagongPort from 58 to 30 in the list of 100 best container ports in the world. Chittagong port is moving forward. River dredging is required to keep Chittagong port active. So I am collecting capital dredging equipment of Karnafuli river. Increasing the port limit is increasing the capacity of the port. The port has been revealed in its glory. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said this while briefing reporters after the meeting of the 14th Advisory Committee of Chittagong Port at Shaheed Munshi Fazlur Rahman Auditorium at 2pm on Sunday. He spoke of establishing good governance under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Many foreign investors are showing interest in coming to the Bay Terminal. The agreement will be final.

He said in response to a question on recruitment, the state minister said Chittagong represents Bangladesh and is leading the country. In the field of employment, the coastal population will be given priority in ports, rivers and sea-centric institutions. But without experience there will be no job. I do not want to give the responsibility of Chittagong port to incompetent people. ChittagongPort will take steps to develop the roads. KovidHospital in the port will be modernized. There has been talk of upgrading the port stadium to an international standard.

He added that any person in the country, no matter where they are in the world, can proudly say that the PadmaBridge is being built with our money. We also feel proud. We will move forward together. Journalists have played an outstanding role in the overall development of ChittagongPort and in maintaining the country`s reputation. Your writing, news delivery has given us inspiration and courage. I thank you. There was a time in Bangladesh when negative news was big news. Bangladesh is not in that place now. People of this country, readers do not pay much attention to negative news.

The state minister further said that 98 percent of the budget of Bangladesh is implemented with its own funds. Bangladesh is building the Padma bridge with its own money. I joined the Atomic Club. Matarbari is a deep sea port. Bangabandhu tunnel is being constructed at the bottom of Karnafuli river. Earlier, there were no highways in the country, but under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Elevated Expressway, Metrorail How much is happening. There is a railway line from Chittagong to Ghumdhum in Cox`s Bazar. Bangladesh with huge potential does not want negative news.

Addressing the members of the advisory committee, he said the port of Chittagong has been kept operational even during the crisis in Corona. It will be written in the history of Chittagong port. You have ruined yourself. You have played an important role in keeping the port operational. The NBR in particular has played an important role. This is our 2nd Advisory Committee meeting since I took office.

Rear Admiral SM Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman of the Port, presented the progress of the decisions of the 13th meeting at the meeting chaired by Md. Zafar Alam, Member Administration and Planning of the Port. MP Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Minister for Education Barrister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Nawfel, MPs Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Wasika Ayesha Khan, Customs House Commissioner Md Fakhrul Alam, Chowk Chairman M Zahirul Alam Dobhas, and District Council Chairman Abdus Salam were present. C&F Agents Association President AKM Altaf Hossain, Nurul Qayyum Khan, BGMEA Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Saif Powertech Managing Director Tarafdar Md. Ruhul Amin, Buffer Director Khairul Alam Sujan, Nurul Haque and others. Besides, FBCCI Vice President Md. Siddiqur Rahman, BKMEA Md. Hatem, Rezaul Karim, Director General of the Department of Environment Rafiq Ahmed and others.

The meeting discussed issues including construction of private container depots within 20 km of the port, reduction of bills for various off dock services, intensification of port auctions and destruction of expired goods, reduction of traffic congestion, construction of specialized port hospitals, construction of toll roads, proposals of port stakeholders and trade organizations.