Government officials and experts on Wednesday said developed and modern land ports would bring mobility in country’s export-import business and play an important role in economic growth. At a national public consultation workshop held at TCB auditorium in the capital, they also said that land port was an important component in regional connectivity. The workshop on environmental and social assessment studies of proposed Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project was jointly organised by Bangladesh Land Port Authority and Yooshin and Vitti JV. Under the project, funded by World Bank, three new ports will be set up — Sheola port at Biyanibazar, Thegamukh port at Rangamati and Ramghar port in Khagrachari while the port at Bhomra in Satkhira will be developed, officials have said. The initiative has been taken to create different services at these ports for bringing mobility in export-import business. Shipping minister Shajahan Khan said in 2009 there were only 12 land ports out of which only two were active. This government so far established 23 land ports out of which 10 were active at present, he said. He also said the government was also planning to set up a land port at Bandarban also to cover the entire Chittagong Hill Tracts. The minister said the land ports would play a significant role in keeping the country’s economy active and make the country a middle income one within 2041. The land ports would play an important role in implementing the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement, he added.VITTI Sthapati Brindo Ltd managing director Iqbal Habib urged people to join workshops like this to place their comments on government’s different plans.According to the BLPA, a feasibility study would be conducted for infrastructural development of these four land ports.Currently international consultants are going to complete environmental and social assessment studies on these ports, they added.The workshop was attended, among others, by shipping ministry additional secretary Md Rafiqul Islam, social consultant BKD Raja, environmental consultant Venkata Nukala, BLPA chairman Tapan Kumar Chakraborty and member (development) Meshkat Ahmed Chowdhury, Yooshin and Vitti JV team leader Seong Yil Bae, deputy team leader Ishtiaque Zahir and environmental specialist Jagadhish Chandra Saha.
