Land ports being upgraded for increasing trade, connectivity: Khalid Mahmud

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said Land ports of the country are being upgraded to international level with an aim to increasing trade and connectivity with neighboring countries.

"The land ports are being upgraded day by day along with expanding its yard. Two land ports have already been automated while the rest will be brought under automation soon aiming to ensure smooth movement of goods, vehicles and passengers", said Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, reports BSS.

The state minister was addressing a discussion marking the 21st founding anniversary of Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) at the ballroom of Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel.

BLPA chairman Md Alamgir presented the keynote speech in the discussion with the theme 'Role of land port in promoting regional trade, connectivity and economic development' while Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami spoke as special guest.

Khalid said, "We have been focusing on making sure that each product being imported or exported can reach its destination smoothly and safely which is the prime task of land port authorities. The land port authorities are working relentlessly in this regard."

Besides, Indian government and concerned authorities are coming forward with assistance continuously, he said, adding, "To upgrade the service of Benapole Land Port, India has been working from their side along with Bangladesh."

He said Prime minister Sheikh Hasina first initiated the land port in 2001 aiming at facilitating trade, fostering connectivity, stimulating growth and
ensuring for smooth movement of vehicles and passengers for the country's economic development.

"However, it collapsed at the very beginning during the BNP-Jamaat regime. The land ports were messed up as a number of ports were handed over to private companies while some others were being used for smuggling and getting illegal weapons," he added.

After the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came into power, the scenario started to change rapidly like other sector of the country and the consequences is visible, he said, adding, "Padma Bridge is a symbol of country's development and progress towards being Sonar Bangla as dreamt by father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami said without ensuring a good logistic system, the ambition of Bangladesh, India as well as the region for development will never be fully achieved as trade and economic activity and even investment relied heavily on a good logistic system.

"We believe that the time is now for us to start making changes in simplifying movement of goods and services and ensure good logistic system," he said adding, "The role of our land ports has been very important for the last 21 years and in the next 21 years, it will be more important in this way."

Doraiswami said movement of people from two countries need to be made easier so that people can see the benefit of next 50 years of friendship between Bangladesh and India to create 'Sonar Bangla' and a more prosperous region.

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam, former president of FBCCI Md Shafiul Islam, MP, shipping secretary Md Mostafa Kamal, President of India-Bangladesh chamber of commerce and industry Abdul Matlub Ahmed and BGMEA President Faruque Hasan also spoke on the occasion.