STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Chattogram

The government is set to finalise the national port strategy within this year to ensure the long-term and sustainable development of land, river, and seaports, said Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain yesterday.

He was speaking at a stakeholder consultation meeting in the capital organised by the Ministry of Shipping with support from the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to finalise the national port strategy.

“The draft of the national port strategy is at its final stage. We hope to complete it within this year and start implementation from January next year,” said the shipping adviser.

He said the country’s ports have been playing a vital role in driving economic growth through trade and export-import activities.

“However, it is unfortunate that in the past 54 years, Bangladesh has not had a unified and integrated port management strategy. Each port has been operating and planning independently,” he added.

To address this gap and ensure modern, efficient, and globally competitive port management, the government initiated the formulation of a national port strategy soon after assuming office, the adviser said.

He also said a high-level committee was formed to prepare the strategy after reviewing the port policies of developed countries and consulting with national and international experts.

Many of the world’s major ports are now managed through digital systems, which have significantly boosted foreign investment, said Hussain.

“To attract more domestic and foreign investment in our maritime sector and to ensure efficient, sustainable management, we have prioritised finalising the national port strategy,” he said.

The adviser said the strategy aims to establish a coordinated and modern port framework.

“A maritime single-window system will be introduced to bring all port-related services under one platform, enabling traders to receive services faster and hassle-free,” he added.

Hussain said the implementation of the strategy would mark the beginning of a new era in port governance, ensuring better coordination among seaports, inland ports, and land ports.

He expressed optimism that the strategy would bring about a transformative change in Bangladesh’s maritime sector. Shipping Secretary Nurun Nahar Chowdhury chaired the event, while Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman was also present, along with senior officials of the ministry.