Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has stated that the government is not handing over Chittagong port to anyone, saying that rather initiatives are being taken to modernise it.
He made the remarks during the “CMJF Talk” event organised by the Capital Market Journalists Forum (CMJF) in the capital on Sunday.
The press secretary said the government wants the world’s largest companies to manage Chittagong port. “We want them to invest in the terminals and take on management responsibilities. We have already received assurances from foreign investors—they have pledged to invest $3 billion.”
He added that enhancing the capacity of Chittagong port can have a multiplier effect on Bangladesh’s economy. “The world is currently leaning towards protectionism in trade, but we are in a position to benefit from that trend. We can reap those benefits swiftly.”
Shafiqul also noted that the chief adviser is working towards establishing Bangladesh as a manufacturing hub.
“The primary condition for setting up a manufacturing hub is increasing port capacity. We need to take the efficiency of the port to a whole new level, which we currently lack. We do not yet have the necessary management skills either. That is why we are in discussions with major international companies,” he added.
He said that under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, 100 economic zones were established. “But those zones remain underutilised because investors are not coming. The main reason they are staying away is the lack of sufficient port capacity.”
