PM asks all to promote Chittagong Port's goodwill

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged all concerned to promote Chittagong port's goodwill with their sincere efforts saying the facility could bring fortune for Bangladesh because of its strategic location for trade connectivity.

"It (Chittagong Port) is great asset for the country," she said inaugurating the "Port Expo Bangladesh- 2017" marking the 130th founding anniversary of the port in the southeastern city.

She said the Chittagong Port and other ports of the country were very prospective for development of regional connectivity as every country could use "our ports for their economic development".

"Bangladesh is creating the opportunity for them (countries)," Sheikh Hasina said.

She described Chittagong Port to be of crucial importance for the country's economy as it clearly aimed to wipe out hunger and poverty by 2021 and a turned to be a developed one by 2041.

"To make this happened the contribution of the Chittagong Port is very important," the premier said as she opened the expo through a video conference from her Gonobhaban residence in the capital.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubul Alam, Chittagong Port Authority's chairman Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal were connected to the premier from the port complex in Chittagong.

Housing and public works minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, state minister for land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, parliament members elected from Chittagong constituencies and politicians were present at Chittagong Port end.

PMO's director general Kabir Bin Anwar conducted the ceremony, also joined by senior officials of the prime minister's office.

Sheikh Hasina said a crucial strategic geographic location earned Bangladesh a scope to be an economic hub connecting nations in all directions -- east and west; and south and north and since assuming office, the government is making constant efforts to make this happen.

"It is our great fortune that Bangladesh is a riverine country as well, the country has a vast sea area. We have immense opportunity to make our socioeconomic development through using the sea resources and sea ports," she said.

The Prime Minister recalled the memories of the workers of the port who embraced martyrdom while resisting unloading of arms and ammunition from Swat Ship at the advent of the War of Liberation in 1971 and during the war.

She said soon after independence Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took immediate step to make the Chittagong Port mine free with the help of the Russia considering its importance to economy.

Extending her thanks to the Chittagong Port Authority for organizing the Port Expo-2017, the premier said the event would help further transcending the goodwill of the port abroad and find new business destinations.

Sheikh Hasina said her government took massive plan to make Chittagong Port a continental one.

She said a tunnel was being constructed under the Karnaphuli River and necessary roads and bridges were being built to put in place a developed communication network to facilitate the port and the southeastern port city.

Source: bss