Chattogram Port Vital for Economic Growth: Shipping Minister

Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has emphasized that Chittagong Port holds significant potential for further capacity expansion. He made the remarks following an inspection of the NCT-5 Jetty on Sunday afternoon.

On his first official visit to the country’s primary seaport since taking office, the Minister praised the port's current progress but stressed the need for further development. "While the port’s growth is positive, there is much more to achieve. We aim to work collaboratively to unlock these possibilities," he stated.

The Minister revealed plans to launch new projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. He noted that several international organizations have expressed interest in the landlord model, offering both investment and technical expertise to enhance container terminal efficiency.

During his field visit, Minister Alam identified several operational bottlenecks. "We have reached initial decisions on some of these issues. For others, final resolutions will be made following inter-ministerial meetings in Dhaka," he added.

Reiterating the government’s vision, the Minister highlighted that sectors driving economic prosperity are receiving top priority, with Chittagong Port being a central pillar of that strategy.

During his two-day tour, the Minister inspected various port, road, and rail-related infrastructure. His visit focused on streamlining import-export trade, reducing operational costs, and ensuring faster service delivery.