Chairman of Port Authority Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said that all four Bay- Terminals in Chattogram port will be foreign investment.

He said, Bay-Terminal is the biggest mega project of our country. Planning is underway. We got land. The master plan is done. The deepest channel will be here. Channels of 12-14 m draft. All designs are finalized. The good news is that there were supposed to be three terminals here. Now there will be four terminals.

The Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority said these things during an exchange of views with journalists on the occasion of the 137th Port Day on Wednesday (April 24).

The Port Chairman said that the multipurpose terminal will be managed by the Chattogram Port Authority. Terminal 1 will be managed by Singapore Port Authority and Terminal 2 will be managed by Dubai-based Company DP. They will build and operate two terminals with an investment of one and a half billion to three billion dollars. A liquid bulk terminal will be built by a domestic company. Half a billion dollars are being invested there.

A total of 9 to 10 billion dollars will be invested in the bay-terminal. Foreigners will invest one billion dollars in the port's multipurpose terminal. We will also make that agreement. In other words, the Bay-Terminal will be entirely foreign investment. In all, 9 to 10 billion dollars will be invested here. It is the biggest investment in the history of Bangladesh, he said.

The Port Chairman said that the Covid pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, recent tensions in the Middle East have slowed down the expected pace of the global economy, but have not had much impact on container handling at the Chattogram port. After completing the unloading of the ship in maximum 2 days, I will release it to the next destination. Container handling in the first 9 months of FY 2023-24 increased by 8.2 percent over the same period of the previous fiscal. If the growth continues, this time there will be 3.2 million TEUs of container handling.

Last year was successful. We have been able to hire foreign operators in the PCT. This will benefit the port as well as the state. Foreign income will increase. 100% recruitment has been given. All the equipment will come in one and a half years. We have started operating the port in the landlord system out of the traditional system, he said.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said that we have kept the waters safe with the cooperation of Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard and others. Chattogram port is safe. Employment opportunities are increasing when foreign investment comes to the port. Information technology, use of modern equipment will increase.

In response to a question, he said, we want competition. And the buyer wants the order to be delivered properly. If there is logistics support in the country, the orders of garment factories will increase. 250,000 container handling fee per year in PCT to be paid to the foreign operator who gets the work order. Everyone has an account of the needs of Bangladesh. If the Bay-Terminal and deep sea port are opened, the existing port jetties will be able to accommodate lighter vessels and passenger ships.

Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority said that in the first 9 months of the financial year, general cargo handling was 9 crore 16 lakh 49 thousand tons. At this time, 3 thousand 1 ships were handled. 43 thousand square meter container yard has been constructed in the last year. As a result, there is an opportunity to keep 7 thousand containers of 20 feet. A chemical shed of 4 thousand 275 square meters has been constructed. 2 thousand 850 meters revetment work has been completed on both banks to protect the navigability of Karnaphuli river.

He also said that Matarbari seaport will start operations in its own terminal in three-four years. Efforts to procure support vessels continue so that the terminal is not closed even for a day. Survey work for acquisition of 700 acres of land in second phase in Matarbari is going on.

Regarding Karnaphuli occupation pollution, he said, Karnaphuli is the heart of Chattogram port. This river is like our mother. River digging, waste removal is being done regularly. The operation is being conducted by its own magistrate. Nets will be placed at the mouth of the canal by the port to prevent waste. But it is not possible for anyone to protect the river alone. Ports have many challenges. The port is running on the tariff fixed in 1986. Now the price of fuel has increased. Our tariffs are low compared to neighboring countries. We have made recommendations. It is important.

Commenting on the safe release of MV Abdullah, the image of the country has been brightened, the Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority said that the image of the country has been brightened as the ship MV Abdullah was safely freed from the pirates of Somalia. This has been made possible by the sincerity of the government including the Prime Minister, diplomatic activities of Bangladesh. It is a positive aspect.

Chattogram Port Board Member (Engineering) Captain Mahbubur Rahman, Member (Administration and Planning) Habibur Rahman, Member (Finance) Shahidul Alam and Secretary Omar Farooq were also present. 

Rahena Khatun of Jhikargacha area of Jashore district. Her daughter Mukta Akhtar took a job in 2010 at the 8th floor garments in Rana Plaza to support her parents' poor family. After joining the service, she took care of all the expenses of her mother's family. The family found some relief from the life of misery in the income of Mukta. But that happiness did not last. Mukta was killed in the Rana Plaza tragedy in 2013. Mukta's mother Rahena Khatun became destitute.

Even after 11 years of losing her daughter, this helpless mother did not mourn. Sixty-six-year-old Rahena Khatun came to Savar with a heart-filled cry. She was crying because of the pain of losing her daughter.

Mukta's mother Rahena Khatun was speaking on Wednesday (April 24) morning. Recalling the memory of her daughter, she said that she will take hold in the world of poverty. So came to Dhaka. Mukta was 18 years old. She used to send money to me. She used to send money by bKash or by any transport. When I wanted, she would pay Tk. 500, Tk. 800. That girl doesn't call me. She does not call the owner is killing my daughter by force. I can't open the girl's picture. The chest bursts. I come hoping to find a girl, but every year I don't get a girl.

Meanwhile, Khursida Begum of Shimal Tali area of Jamalpur Mesta Union lost her eldest son in a tragedy. After his father's death, Khurshad's eldest son Al Amin, unable to bear his mother's grief came to Dhaka for quiet work. Unable to find a job anywhere, Al Amin took a job at Rana Plaza Garments. However, the fortune of his son's income changed Khurshida's life. Affectionate son of mother has disappeared from the world when he came to erase his mother's pain.

Khursida Begum said, my son still floats in my eyes. Ponce walks in wearing sandals. Mom calls mom. My son used to call me and tell me to eat. I won't eat if you don't eat. You are my mother. You take care of yourself mom. Now my son does not call.

Khursida also said that my crazy son wanted to repay his mother's debt. He came to Dhaka to take good care of his mother. I also wanted to eat my son's earnings. He left on his own to do his duty to me.

1175 families have tragic stories like those of Khursida and Rahena Khatun who lost their children and loved ones in the Rana Plaza tragedy. On April 24, 2013, the multi-storied building called Rana Plaza, built next to Savar bus stand, collapsed. At that time, the building had a market on its own floor and a garment factory up to the 8th floor. About 5 thousand workers were working in the garment factory. Among them 1175 were killed. More than 2,000 people are still alive with fear after being injured in that terrible accident.

The complaints of the relatives of the deceased and the injured have not been fulfilled even after all these years of the Rana Plaza tragedy. Despite assurances, 11 years have passed but the culprits in the Rana Plaza tragedy have not been punished. In this world's third largest industrial accident, the fair demands of the workers were not met. As a result, the families are going through the pain of losing a relative for years with frustration and anger.

Meanwhile, the labor leaders said that due to the lack of goodwill of the government, the workers have not yet received their fair dues where the world is witness. There, the trial of the guilty is being carried out under the pretext of accepting the testimony of the workers. As a result, they demand to take quick initiatives to compensate the victims and reduce their suffering.

Terrorists fired at a truck used for border road work in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban.

The incident took place on Wednesday (April 24) around 3:30 pm at 8 km Namakstan on the Thanchi border road. At this time panic spread among the locals.

According to local sources, in the afternoon, four trucks were coming to the Thanchi market by laying bricks for construction work in the 45 km area of the Thanchi border road. On the way, when they reached a place called 8 km of the border road, seven armed terrorists fired 6-7 rounds at the truck from inside the forest.

Although several parts of a truck were damaged in the firing, the drivers quickly drove to Thanchi Bazar. At that time, red cloth was tied on the head of the terrorists. Although no one was injured in this incident, the truck was shot at different places. But no one can say for sure who shot.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Thanchi police station Md. Jasimuddin said, I received the news that the truck was hit by bullets. The police are investigating who did this incident. 

A medium-sized tree that fascinates with its bold, golden yellow beauty. Only golden yellow flowers are found throughout the entire plant on the leafy umbilical body. In spring, yellow petals fall and carpet the streets. Another beauty of nature is Udal tree and its flowers.

Udal is our native plant. Although their favorite habitat is the hilly area, earlier they were seen more or less all over the country. Due to indiscriminate cutting down of trees, this native tree is endangered along with other trees. Udal can be seen in many places in the plain including Mirpur National Park in Dhaka, Botanical Garden of Dhaka University, Bangla Academy, Ramna Park in Dhaka, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Park on Brahmaputra Bank in Mymensingh. Chattogram, Chattogram Hill Tracts, especially in mixed evergreen forests of Bandarban and Cox's Bazar, and in damp areas of deciduous Salbans in Gazipur, Mymensingh and Tangail.

The scientific name of Udal is Sterculia velosa. In English it is called hairy sterculia or elephant rope tree. A high quality fiber is obtained from the bark of this tree. It is also named in English because ropes for tying elephants were made with these fibers. It is also locally known as Chandul in our country. This plant is known as phew ban by the Mughs and Marmads, umak by the Garos and nam singh by the Mrods.

Udal grows to 20 meters or more in length. Their bark is white in color. Their leaf blades are long, the blades are large and the leaves are grooved, the leaves are concentrated at the front of the leaf branches. Flowers golden yellow, purple inside. Its fruit is green when raw but turns dark red when ripe. The seed color is black. The seeds are a favorite food of squirrels because they taste like nuts. But people also eat its fruits. Fiber is obtained from the bark. Rope is made from this fiber. The wood is brown in color, usually soft and light. Tea boxes are made from the wood of this tree.

Professor of Botany Department of Dhaka University Mohammad Jasimuddin told Barta24.com that this tree was abundant in the forests of the country. Syrup is made from the leaves of this plant. Larger trees are cut down as it is difficult to collect leaf buds from tall trees. After that many new branches grow from its base and leaf tips are collected from there. A transparent gum is also obtained from the Udal tree which is used in various works including confectionery.

He also said that this plant is currently an endangered species. Last year, the plant science department of Dhaka University distributed three hundred Udal tree seedlings to various schools and colleges. This time also about five hundred saplings will be distributed.

Dr. Jasim said, drinking Udal bark syrup keeps the body cool. Squeezing the stem of the flower and making syrup with sugar in water relieves urinary problems and rheumatic pain. But experts should be consulted before eating.

ACF Tabibur Rahman of Rangamati Forest Division said that the taste of Udal seeds is very much like almonds, so squirrels like them very much. However, this seed is also eaten by humans.

He also said that according to Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, 2012, Udal has been identified as a listed plant of 'critically endangered' species in Bangladesh.