Dhaka, Apeil 29 – The present government has opened 10 land ports at the borders to facilitate export-import goods with India, shipping minister Shajahan Khan has said.“The Awami League (AL) government has published a gazette in 2001 on 12 land ports. Of the 12 land ports, two were operational. The AL government has increased the number of land ports to 23 from 12 since returning to power in 2009,” the shipping minister said while addressing a seminar on ‘addressing land port issues for better Indo-Bangla trade’ held at a city hotel yesterday.
India-Bangladesh chamber of commerce and industries organized the day-long seminar.
Among others, acting Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Adarsh Swaika, former high commissioner Tariq Karim, Indo-Bangla chamber president Abdul Matlub Ahmad, Indo-Bangla chamber vice-president Shoeb Chowdhury also spoke at the seminar.
“The government has taken initiatives to develop infrastructures and modernize all the land ports by 2030 to achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG), Shajahan Khan said.
Land, river and sea ports will be expedite through development in a view to build the country as developed nation by 2041, he added.
The less-important shipping ministry is turned now an important ministry as it is playing pioneer role to restore the country’s rivers, the minister said, adding that Bangladesh Land Port Authority is also doing its important role under the ministry.
The shipping minister said only 43.26 lakh tonnes of goods were traded through land ports during 2008-09 fiscal year, which stood 155.19 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 fiscal years.
“The land port authority had earned Tk 26.74 crore in 2008-09 fiscal years, while it earned Tk 111.47 crore in 2016-17 fiscal years,” Shajahan Khan said.
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has recently awarded a certificate of merit to Bangladesh land port authority for its better services, the minister said.
Transportation of export-import goods through river routes is also eased like the land ports, he said, adding, “not only increase the facilities for export-import—an international passenger and bus terminal has also established at Benapole land port.”
The government is examining the issue to transport passenger launches between Bangladesh and India like the export-import through river routes, the shipping minister said.
The issue of plying passenger’s launches between the two countries will be resolved only after signing the agreement, he observed.
Abdul Matlub Ahmad said 90 per cent export-import is done through Benapole land port. He suggested for easing the export-import in all land ports like the Benapole port, he added. – Staff Reporter
