There is no denying the trajectory on which the Bangladesh economy is on, with the 2020s and 2030s being seminal in ensuring that we transform first into a middle income economy before becoming a smart, developed nation by 2041.
However, for that to happen, every aspect of our nation must improve, and nowhere is this perhaps more relevant than in improving our points of trade, namely, our ports.
To that end, the fact that the Chittagong port can now accommodate larger vessels, with the port jetty now able to accommodate ships with a depth of nine and a half metres (submerged portion of the ship) and a length of 190 metres is certainly good news.
Enhancement of the port's berthing capabilities no doubt will greatly improve container handling capacity while most importantly, reduce transport costs and turnaround times -- the time required for loading and unloading of goods at the port.
For years, myriad issues at our ports have been a roadblock to ensuring smooth and efficient trade, but it is good to see that the authorities concerned are slowly but surely taking the right steps to increasing the capacity of our ports, thereby allowing for more efficient trade volume to pass through.
Moving forward, much like the Chittagong port, Bangladesh must prioritize its other ports, and make sure that they too are soon brought up to speed with increasing their capacity. Ultimately, bringing down the cost of imports and exports by handling a larger number of containers should prove to be yet another boost for our economic ambitions, and bring us closer to achieving our goals.
