Sonamasjid Land Port to be int'l standard: Shahriar

RAJSHAHI, Aug 18 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has said the Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj will be transformed into a model one through upgrading it to international standard.
"Necessary works for transforming some of the country's land ports into model ones are progressing fast in the first phase," he said while addressing a view-sharing meeting with all stakeholders of the port as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner AZM Nurul Haque in the chair.
In line with the development spree, the Sonamasjid Land Port, second largest land port of the country, will be elevated to an international standard in phases, the state minister said.
Organised by District Administration, the meeting was held at the conference hall of Sonamasjid Panama Port Link Limited on Saturday.
It was addressed, among others, by Dr Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul, MP, Superintendent of Police Mozahidul Islam, President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Erfan Ali, General Manager of Panama Port Link Limited Billal Hossain and President of Sonamasjid C&F Agent Association Mustafizur Rahman.
Shahriar Alam said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to elevate all the existing land ports for bolstering the country's economy as well as making the country self-reliant.
He hoped that the country's economy will be furthermore dynamic when the logistic facilities in every sector of the sonamasjid land port will be enhanced.
At the same time, the existing deficit related to import-export trade with India will be resolved, he added.
The state minister also went round different sections of the port to see for himself its operational activities.
Meanwhile, the import-export related activities in Sonamasjid Land Port resumed on Sunday after a nine-day holiday due to Eid-ul-Azha.
According to the source of Sonamasjid Clearing and Forwarding Agent Association, activities of the country's second largest land ports resumed after the Eid.
President of the association Mustafizur Rahman, however, said the Sonamasjid immigration section was functional for the passport-holding passengers during the holiday.
He said the port plays an important role towards boosting the region's economy coupled with improving living and livelihood condition of its public in general.