Labour and employment and shipping adviser M Sakhawat Hossain at a discussion in Dhaka on Monday said that importance should be given to port management in the interest of the country.
He made the remark at the discussion on the occasion of the 24th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Land Port Authority at its head office, said a press release.
He said, 鈥楽ince the land ports of Bangladesh are located on the borders of the country, the ports are directly related to the security of the country. Therefore, we have to be more strategic in determining land port management and other policies, considering the interests of the country.鈥�
鈥楾here is a considerable trade deficit in the field of import and export, which should be eliminated,鈥� he mentioned.
Presided over by Bangladesh Land Ports Authority chairman Mohammad Manzarul Mannan, senior secretary to the Ministry of Shipping Mohammad Yusuf was present as special guest at the discussion.
Mohammad Yusuf emphasised the timely implementation of projects to modernise the land ports.
Praising the infrastructural development and management of Benapole and Bhomra land ports, he urged the officers and employees of the land ports to work together.
Manzarul Mannan emphasised the introduction of one-stop services to increase the capacity of port management, saying, 鈥業nitiatives should be taken to diversify export products through land ports to reduce trade deficit in the import-export sector.鈥�
He also mentioned that the National Board of Revenue needed to consider approving the import-export of more products through land ports like sea ports.
Payra Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Masud Iqbal, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation chairman Md Salim Ullah and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mustafa, among others, attended the discussion.
The slogan of the discussion was 鈥榩rogress of land ports, prosperity of economy鈥�.
