Foreign company needed to improve port handling capacity: Adviser

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain has said that the engagement of foreign company is crucial to pave way for induction of latest technology to improve the port handling capacity.

The adviser said this while inaugurating an international standard chemical shed at Chattogram port. 

Terming Chattogram Port as the life line of the country, he urged all to refrain from spreading propaganda on the issue in country’s interests. 

“Chattogram Port belongs to Bangladesh, it is our asset. It will remain under our ownership. We aim to elevate the level of the port up to international level,” he said.

Sakhawat Hossain said, the present government wants to make the Chattogram port activities more efficient than past.

“I’m following the discussions since taking office. I will say that those who operated the New Mooring Terminal (NCT) for 17-18 years have done a good job. However, we have taken initiatives to make the make the port more efficient,” he said.
Pointing out the efficiency of the ports in Singapore the adviser said, most of the ports there are operated with sophisticated technologies by by private companies. 

“If we want to increase efficiency of our ports, we have to bring those latest technologies. A port will enter the international arena only when an international operator will come,” the shipping adviser observed.

He said the management of the port will very much remain in our hand and foreign operator will work under the management.

“We are only giving the task of operation of the terminal to another company in place of previous one,” he clarified.

Sakhawat said the performance of the NCT has been increased by 30 percent after engaging the Navy for its operation which is a significant progress. 

He said the tariff of Chattogram Port is much lower than other ports across the world, even comparing to Mongla port. 
“The port tariff has not been increased since 1986,” he added.