Economic Reporter :
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said the land port facilities will be expanded to ease export-import through the ports for flourishing trade and commerce and strengthening regional relations.
“Land ports are playing an important role for the country’s economic progress. Development activities of the land ports are underway to ease export-import by road to expand export-import and regional trade and strengthen relations between neighboring countries,” he told a view-exchange with officials and employees of Bangladesh Land Port Authority at its office here.
Khalid said at present the country has 23 land ports while 12 ports- Benapole, Bhomra, Burimari, Akhaura, Nakugaon, Tamabil, Sonahat, Sonamasjid, Hili, Teknaf, Bibirbazar and Banglabandha remain active. Developments of Bilonia, Gobrakura-Karaituli, Ramgarh, Chilahati, Tegamukh, Doulatganj, Sheola, Dhanuakamalpur, Balla, Darshana and Biral land ports are underway, he said. He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government brought a total of 12 land ports under gazette in 2001. But only two were kept active from 2001 to 2008 during the BNP-Jamaat alliance and military backed caretaker government, he said.
Since Awami League led grand alliance government assumed office in 2009, a total of 11 ports were brought under gazette. The meeting was told foundation stone of headquarters of Land Port Authority will be laid at its own land at Agargaon in the capital to further boost up activities of the land ports.
