If the capacity of Chattogram port is increased, it will be possible to reduce the cost of doing business in the country by at least 5 percent. At the same time, the interest of foreign entrepreneurs to invest in this country will also increase. Moreover, if production starts in full swing in Bangabandhu Industrial City and other economic zones of the country, the pressure on Chattogram port will increase several times. So now the FBCCI President Jasimuddin has called for increasing the capacity of the port.
He made the call at the first meeting of the FBCCI Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping on Thursday (January 6) at noon.
Speaking as the chief guest, Jasim Uddin said that at present the speed of cargo vehicles on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway is 40 kilometers per hour. If this speed is doubled, the competitiveness of the export sector will increase by 6 percent.
Chemicals imported through Chattogram port have to be tested separately before unloading. However, Chattogram Customs does not have adequate laboratory. It takes traders 10 to 12 days to get the test done. Quick steps should be taken to solve these port problems.
FBCCI President Md. Jasimuddin urged the standing committee to find short, medium and long term solutions by identifying the port-centric problems.
At this time, FBCCI's vice-president Md. Amin Helali said some more ports will be opened in the future. If we can work according to the plan, the progress of the country can be further accelerated by utilizing the potentials of these ports.
FBCCI vice-president Md. Habib Ullah Don alleged that importing vehicles through Chattogram port would cost double the fare as compared to Mongla port. He remarked that different fares in different ports of the same country are unreasonable.
Standing Committee Director-in-Charge A.M. Mahbub Chowdhury said the profit of Chattogram port has increased several times in the last few years. He alleged that despite being a non-profit service organization, it was taking steps to increase the tariff again to increase the amount of profit.
The chairman of the committee Md. Parvez Sajjad Akhtar called for not increasing the tariff in order to create a business-friendly environment. At the same time, he said, most tariffs have to be paid in dollars. So if the tariff increases, the cost of foreign exchange will also increase. Moreover, foreign ship owners can also increase the fare in this opportunity. In that case, there will be fear of an increase in the price of imported goods.
In the open discussion, the members of the standing committee hoped for the cooperation of the port and customs officials to speed up the import-export activities.