The government will take initiatives through discussions with India to reopen the long-abandoned Mogalhat Land Port in Lalmonirhat, which has remained closed for nearly 40 years, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion with local residents on Sunday morning during his visit to the abandoned Mogalhat Land Port at Mogalhat zero point in Lalmonirhat. The meeting was organised by the Lalmonirhat district administration.
Dulu said the government would discuss the reopening of the Mogalhat Land Port with India and take the necessary steps. He also said there had been reports during the previous Awami League government that an agreement between the two countries would be reached to reopen the port, but no such agreement was actually signed at the time.
The minister said reopening the port could expand trade and commerce in Lalmonirhat and the wider northern region while also increasing the pace of import and export activities between Bangladesh and India. He said the move could have a positive impact on the local economy.
State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Rajib Ahsan attended the meeting as a special guest. The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Manzurul Mannan, chairman of the port authority under the Ministry of Shipping.
The discussion covered the feasibility of reopening the Mogalhat Land Port, necessary infrastructure development and its broader economic potential. Recent reporting also confirms that the government has been considering steps to reopen the long-closed port and customs station.
Local residents demanded the reopening of the Mogalhat Land Port, saying it would boost business and trade in the region, create employment opportunities and give fresh momentum to the local economy.
