State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said the government is planning to establish cross-border maritime connectivity with other countries after neighbouring Kolkata, India.
"After Kolkata, we are considering establishing maritime connectivity with Assam and various states of India along with other neighbouring countries," he said after the US Ambassador in Bangladesh Earl Robert Miller called on him at his secretariat office on Wednesday.
The shipping service between Bangladesh and Kolkata will resume on March 29 after a suspension of long 70 years.
He said the government will establish maritime connectivity, not only with the countries of this region, but also with other countries of different continents.
"First, let us start the shipping service (with Kolkata), then we will consider its gradual expansion," Mr Chowdhury said.
A private sector team has visited the country to discuss about establishing maritime connectivity with Assam, according to the Ministry of Shipping sources.
The state minister said the US envoy expressed his country's interest to invest here and cooperate with Bangladesh in the shipping sector.
He said the ambassador wanted to know about the ongoing development activities in Chattogram, Mongla and Payra seaports.
The minister assured the US envoy of providing all sorts of help, if investors from his country come to invest in the shipping sector in Bangladesh.
Regarding the ongoing eviction drives against encroachment on the banks of the rivers Buriganga and Turag, he said, "Our drive will continue. We have taken initiatives, so that none could encroach the river banks again."
Mr Chowdhury further said the government will follow a 'go-slow' policy in case of demolishing the mosques, built on the river banks.
The mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokon along with other officials of the departments concerned are now working to relocate the mosques to somewhere else from their present location, he added.
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