BD-SL body formed to boost maritime trade

Our Correspondent

CHITTAGONG, May 2: Maritime trade between Chittagong and Sri Lankan ports will enhance in the coming days as both the port authorities have reached an understanding at a meeting at the Chittagong Port Thursday.

A 10-member joint study committee with five members from each side has been formed with a view to enhancing trade and cooperation in sectors like transshipment, enhancement of existing facilities, feeder vessel operation and shipping lines.

The study team will place their views, observations and suggestions on maritime trade to shipping ministries of both the countries for taking further steps. Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral Nizam Uddin made the disclosures to journalists after the meeting held in the conference room of the CPA.

A seven-member team now visiting Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding last Tuesday at the Ministry of Shipping Affairs in Dhaka. Under that agreement the committee for study had been formed, he said.

Five members of the Sri Lankan team visited Chittagong Port and its existing facilities and held a meeting with the senior port officials and port users on the day.

Member (Marine and Harbour) M Shahjahan, Chief Engineer (Mechanical) Khairul Mostafa, Director (Traffic) Golam Sarwar, Director (Security) Lt Col Moazzem Hossain and Director (Administration) Muhibul Hoque represented the Bangladesh side in the meeting.