Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan has said his ministry has been working to launch Mangla Port of Khulna and Payra Port of Patuakhali in a full swing in a bid to lessen the dependency on country’s largest Chittagong Port.
“20 big countries of the world has been expressing their keen interest saying that they are willing to invest to Payra port”, said
Shajahan Khan said this while he was addressing an inauguration ceremony of newly built Action Shed of Chittagong Customs at Bandar Stadium Thursday morning.
“The two ports have to lunch immediately as the pressures on Chittagong Port is going to high while it has been facing complexity to handle the whole operation process lonely”, the minister added.
Addressing as the chief guest at the programme Shajahan Khan said the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will have to face trial to kill people by burning in the name of blockade and political programme.
“I urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to set up a Special Tribunal to conduct Khaleda Zia’s trial as she ordered to kill the people through arson attack during her movement in 2013, 2014 and 2015, said Shajahan Khan.
Slamming recent remark of BNP central Leader Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed about Major Ziaur Rahman’s role during Bangabandhu’s murder, the minister claimed: “As a top rank army official Major Zia had been informed all the things and he also categorically ordered to assailant the Father of the Nation”.
Denying the allegation of Chittagong city unit Awami League (AL) and also the convener of Bandar Rakkha Parishad ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, the minister said: “the consignment of cocaine was export from abroad while the kingpins behind the incident are detected adding that none of Chittagong Port was involved with the incident”.
Earlier, Mohiuddin alleged that international mafia was hatching conspiracy to destroy Chittagong Port at a press conference at his house in the city on last Monday.
The Shipping minister also said the waterlogging problem in the port city will be eased soon as Chittagong Port is going to build a sluice gate on “Mohesh Khal” and setting up a pump house in their own fund.
MA Latif said a bay terminal will be set up at Foujdarhat area under Sitakunda upazila while a group is trying to divert the place for residential business purpose.
“Chittagong Port is meant for business not for residence” he added.
Chittagong Port Authority’s chairman Rear Admiral Nizamuddin said the auction shed has been set up on five acres land costing Tk22 crore while it would be handed over soon to the customs.
Later, another programme, Chittagong Port Authority handed over three container vassals to the Charterer M/S Sammit Alliance Port Ltd, a private company which carrying containers for inland water routes.