Two more land ports to be set up soon
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
FE Report
Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) has planned to set up two more land ports, one in Feni and another in Sylhet, to boost bilateral trade with India, officials said.
They said a three-member committee has already been formed to conduct feasibility studies to establish the land ports.
"We will visit the sites selected for establishing the land ports by next week to carry out the feasibility study," ATM Mustafa Kamal, convener of the committee and also member traffic of Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) told the FE Monday.
He said the committee will submit its report by next month to expedite the implementation processes of the land ports.
The land ports will be established at Belonia border in Feni and Shewla border in Sylhet, Kamal said.
"Our aim is to help businessmen increase trade relations with the Indian states of seven sisters."
Establishment of the two ports will help boost the country's business particularly with two states of India --Tripura and Assam-as cost of doing businesses will reduce to a large extent, he said.
The total number of the country's land port with the establishment of the two new land ports will stand at 14.
Earlier, 13 Land Custom Stations (LCS)-- Benapole, Banglabandha, Burimari, Hili, Sonamasjid, Tamabil, Akhaura, Haluaghat, Darshana, Birol, Bhomra, Bibirbazar and Teknaf-- have been declared as land ports and placed under the BLPA for management and control.
But, Haluaghat, situated in Mymensingh border, was dropped from the list of land ports recently, as it was not considered economically viable.
Currently, two land ports, one at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar and another at Sonamasjid in Chapainawabgonj, are being operated by the private operators while Benapole land port in Jessore is under the government supervision.
Hili land port in Dinajpur and Bibir Bazar land port in Comilla will start operation within next two months as appointment of private operators for them is under way.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) has planned to set up two more land ports, one in Feni and another in Sylhet, to boost bilateral trade with India, officials said.
They said a three-member committee has already been formed to conduct feasibility studies to establish the land ports.
"We will visit the sites selected for establishing the land ports by next week to carry out the feasibility study," ATM Mustafa Kamal, convener of the committee and also member traffic of Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) told the FE Monday.
He said the committee will submit its report by next month to expedite the implementation processes of the land ports.
The land ports will be established at Belonia border in Feni and Shewla border in Sylhet, Kamal said.
"Our aim is to help businessmen increase trade relations with the Indian states of seven sisters."
Establishment of the two ports will help boost the country's business particularly with two states of India --Tripura and Assam-as cost of doing businesses will reduce to a large extent, he said.
The total number of the country's land port with the establishment of the two new land ports will stand at 14.
Earlier, 13 Land Custom Stations (LCS)-- Benapole, Banglabandha, Burimari, Hili, Sonamasjid, Tamabil, Akhaura, Haluaghat, Darshana, Birol, Bhomra, Bibirbazar and Teknaf-- have been declared as land ports and placed under the BLPA for management and control.
But, Haluaghat, situated in Mymensingh border, was dropped from the list of land ports recently, as it was not considered economically viable.
Currently, two land ports, one at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar and another at Sonamasjid in Chapainawabgonj, are being operated by the private operators while Benapole land port in Jessore is under the government supervision.
Hili land port in Dinajpur and Bibir Bazar land port in Comilla will start operation within next two months as appointment of private operators for them is under way.