bdnews24.com :
At a luncheon meeting on Sunday with bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi at the port city they spoke of their deprivation and sought the national media’s cooperation to reach the policymakers over their problems.
“Those who are doing business in Chittagong are basically in a war,” said Md Nader Khan, Managing Director of Pedrollo Group.
“Discussions (over their problems) do not yield anything. They do not reach up to the policymakers,” he said during the meeting at a city hotel.
He was echoed by other top businessmen, including Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mahbubul Alam and its former president Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury.
They said the media can effectively highlight the importance of Chittagong to the policy advisers.
“The immense potential of Chittagong needs to be tapped into,” the bdnews24.com editor-in-chief said. “Let’s go deep into the issues, discuss the problems with the key stakeholders and try to get the message across to the policymakers.”
Apart from the current and former chiefs of Chittagong’s apex trade body, the luncheon meeting was attended by International Business Forum’s Chittagong chapter President SM Abu Tayyab, Ispahani Group Managing Director Mirza Salman Ispahani, Managing Editor of the Daily Azadi Wahid Malek, former president of Junior Chamber Chittagong Md Niaz Morshed Elite, Albion Group Chairman Md Raisul Uddin among others.
Chittagong’s role in Bangladesh economy, the seaport, rail and road connection with Dhaka, investment in education, technology and the media’s role were some of the issues that came up during the meeting.
Businesses emphasised immediately raising the port’s capabilities, constructing a bay terminal and implementing the Dhaka-Chittagong double rail-tracks project.
CCCI President Mahbubul said developing Chittagong means developing the whole country since it is the business hub of Bangladesh.
“The draft at channel (of the port) near Kattali is around 13 to 14 metres. If a bay terminal is constructed there, lighter vessels will not be required anymore.”
He said the premier port needs container-handling equipment.
Speaking about the importance Chittagong holds in the economy, former CCCI chief Amir Humayun said during the British rule, the headquarters of Assam-Bengal Railway was in Chittagong, which was only due to the seaport.
“And now it takes around six hours to go to Dhaka by road. The work on the double rail tracks is yet to complete. Communication would have been much faster if the tracks’ maintenance was regular.”
He also expressed his dismay about everything being centred in the capital.
“Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s office and all its activities are based here, but its board meetings are held in Dhaka.”
CCCI chief Mahbubul agreed. “Many government organisations are forced to meet in Dhaka as the ministers do not want to come here.”
On the issue of the container handling at the port, International Business Forum’s Chittagong chapter chief SM Abu Tayyab said, “It would take two to three days before to unload shipments. Now it takes seven to 10 days.
“The apparel businesses somehow manage, but the small and medium enterprises of Khatunganj are suffering badly.” Ispahani Group’s top official Salman Ispahani said the education sector is now seeing a lot of initiatives by the private sector.
He stressed introducing interactive teaching method, which he says will ensure quality education.
The bdnews24.com editor-in-chief agreed and said that investment in education would “give you the best possible rate of return”.
The use of ICT can ensure quality education even in remote areas, added Khalidi. “We have created a huge platform, delivering information with accuracy and speed to staggering numbers. Use it, exploit it if need be.”
The top businessmen of the port city were handed copies of ‘Turning Points: Agenda for 2016’, an annual magazine published by bdnews24.com in collaboration with The New York Times News Service.
At a luncheon meeting on Sunday with bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi at the port city they spoke of their deprivation and sought the national media’s cooperation to reach the policymakers over their problems.
“Those who are doing business in Chittagong are basically in a war,” said Md Nader Khan, Managing Director of Pedrollo Group.
“Discussions (over their problems) do not yield anything. They do not reach up to the policymakers,” he said during the meeting at a city hotel.
He was echoed by other top businessmen, including Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Mahbubul Alam and its former president Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury.
They said the media can effectively highlight the importance of Chittagong to the policy advisers.
“The immense potential of Chittagong needs to be tapped into,” the bdnews24.com editor-in-chief said. “Let’s go deep into the issues, discuss the problems with the key stakeholders and try to get the message across to the policymakers.”
Apart from the current and former chiefs of Chittagong’s apex trade body, the luncheon meeting was attended by International Business Forum’s Chittagong chapter President SM Abu Tayyab, Ispahani Group Managing Director Mirza Salman Ispahani, Managing Editor of the Daily Azadi Wahid Malek, former president of Junior Chamber Chittagong Md Niaz Morshed Elite, Albion Group Chairman Md Raisul Uddin among others.
Chittagong’s role in Bangladesh economy, the seaport, rail and road connection with Dhaka, investment in education, technology and the media’s role were some of the issues that came up during the meeting.
Businesses emphasised immediately raising the port’s capabilities, constructing a bay terminal and implementing the Dhaka-Chittagong double rail-tracks project.
CCCI President Mahbubul said developing Chittagong means developing the whole country since it is the business hub of Bangladesh.
“The draft at channel (of the port) near Kattali is around 13 to 14 metres. If a bay terminal is constructed there, lighter vessels will not be required anymore.”
He said the premier port needs container-handling equipment.
Speaking about the importance Chittagong holds in the economy, former CCCI chief Amir Humayun said during the British rule, the headquarters of Assam-Bengal Railway was in Chittagong, which was only due to the seaport.
“And now it takes around six hours to go to Dhaka by road. The work on the double rail tracks is yet to complete. Communication would have been much faster if the tracks’ maintenance was regular.”
He also expressed his dismay about everything being centred in the capital.
“Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s office and all its activities are based here, but its board meetings are held in Dhaka.”
CCCI chief Mahbubul agreed. “Many government organisations are forced to meet in Dhaka as the ministers do not want to come here.”
On the issue of the container handling at the port, International Business Forum’s Chittagong chapter chief SM Abu Tayyab said, “It would take two to three days before to unload shipments. Now it takes seven to 10 days.
“The apparel businesses somehow manage, but the small and medium enterprises of Khatunganj are suffering badly.” Ispahani Group’s top official Salman Ispahani said the education sector is now seeing a lot of initiatives by the private sector.
He stressed introducing interactive teaching method, which he says will ensure quality education.
The bdnews24.com editor-in-chief agreed and said that investment in education would “give you the best possible rate of return”.
The use of ICT can ensure quality education even in remote areas, added Khalidi. “We have created a huge platform, delivering information with accuracy and speed to staggering numbers. Use it, exploit it if need be.”
The top businessmen of the port city were handed copies of ‘Turning Points: Agenda for 2016’, an annual magazine published by bdnews24.com in collaboration with The New York Times News Service.
