C T Online Desk: April 24, 2022- President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina today greeted labourers, officials, users and others involved
in the operation of Chattogram Port marking the 135th founding anniversary of
the premier port of the country.
Chattogram Port, the gateway of the country’s overseas trade, is playing a
vital role in the nation’s economic development, they said in separate
messages on the eve of the ‘Chattogram Port Day’ to be observed tomorrow.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said the Chattogram Port began its
journey formally in 1887 and it became the central point of Bangladesh’s
economy.
“Around 92 percent export and import activities with foreign countries are
carried out through this port,” he said, adding that the initiatives to
construct Patenga Container Terminal and Bay-Terminal to increase the
capacity of the port are time befitting.
The head of the state said business activities across the world faced
stalemate due to Covid-19 that also affected the operations of ports globally
but the operations of Chattogram Port were never stopped.
He said the present government is implementing different programmes for
flourishing of trade and commerce to make Bangladesh as a developed nation by
2041. To achieve these targets, the role of Chattogram Port is very
important, the President added.
“I hope that all Chattogram Port will continue to play role for the country’s
socio-economic development in future,” said Abdul Hamid.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said as the prime port of
Bangladesh, the Chattogram Port is playing role in the economic development
of the country.
The Awami League government is implementing different programmes to develop
the port as a world-standard one, she said, adding that the Container
Terminal Management System (CTMS), an automatic container handling system,
and modern VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Management Information System) have been
introduced in the port to monitor the ships.
“The overall activities of the port have been digitized,” she said, adding
that as a result, the port authorities had been able to keep the premier port
on operation round the clock during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The capacity of the port will increase multiple time for taking different
initiatives, including construction of Patenga Container Terminal and
Matarbari Deepsea Port, the Premier continued.
She said the present government has been working to make Bangladesh as a
prosperous country by implementing Vision 2041.
“I hope that all concerned will continue to work sincerely for the overall
development of Chattogram Port. I hope this port will play a vital role in
making the country a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she added.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wished all success
of the programmes taken by the port authorities marking the day.
