Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Paira Seaport on Tuesday.
The much- awaited seaport in the country's southern region, Paira Bandar, started its journey today bringing in new hope to the country's export-import businesses and overall economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country's third seaport, a first of its kind after the country’s independence, at Ramnabad Channel under Kalapara upazila this morning. "Today a new seaport launched its journey since the country’s independence. It's a great day for the country, particularly the people of the southern region," she said after inaugurating the seaport. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a modern fully-equipped naval base "BNS Sher-e-Bangla" with aviation facilities. The port, once in full operation, mother vessels with eight to ten metre drafts will be able to anchor helping loading and unloading of goods more quickly than Chittagong port, which now handles 92 percent of the country's export and import. Later, the Prime Minister in a cruise on BNS Surma from Tiakhali jetty visited "BNS Sher-e-Bangla" at Ramnabad Channel, 316 km from the Chittagong Port and 340 km from the capital. Sheikh Hasina hoped that the Paira Seaport would create a new horizon in the country's import-export businesses and transportation of goods. Centering on the port, she said, new industries, LNG terminal, coal yard, shipbuilding industries and other installations would expand in this region. "It will boost communications, employment and local trade and businesses while improving the living standards of the people," she said. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan presided over the meeting while State Minister for Water Resources Mahbubur Rahman, Whip and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry Noor-e-Alam Liton Chowdhury, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, Chairman of Paira Port Authority Rear Admiral Nizam Uddin Ahmed and Shipping Secretary Syed Manzurul Islam spoke, among others, on the occasion.
