The government has suspended operations of the Balla Land Port in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj, despite it being constructed at a cost of Tk 50 crore.
The decision was approved during the 40th meeting of the advisory council held on Thursday at the office of the chief adviser in Dhaka鈥檚 Tejgaon.
Built during the previous Awami League government, the port鈥攍ocated at Kedarakot in Gazipur Union, on the Bangladesh-India border鈥攚as completed in June 2023 after construction began on March 23, 2016.
It spans 13 acres, with infrastructure costs totalling Tk 49.90 crore. However, no operational activity has taken place at the port since its completion.
Officials cite the failure of Indian authorities to establish a corresponding facility in Paharmura, Tripura, on the opposite bank of the Khowai River, as a major reason.
The site has now become unusable and unsafe. In 1951, a check post was set up in the Balla area bordering Chunarughat upazila with an area of 4.37 acres.
After periods of inactivity, it was reopened in 1991, and later declared a full land port in March 2016.
Mohammad Ali, chairman of Gazipur Union Parishad, emphasised the need to preserve the infrastructure.
Chunarughat upazila executive officer Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said that necessary steps would be taken to protect the site and prevent deterioration.
