Nat’l port strategy to take effect in Jan: Sakhawat

The government is set to implement the National Port Strategy from January next year to ensure long-term and sustainable development of the country's land, river, and sea ports, said Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Tuesday, reports UNB.

He said this while speaking at a stakeholders' consultation meeting in the capital, organised by the Ministry of Shipping with support from the Government of Japan and JICA, aimed at finalising the Bangladesh National Port Strategy 2025.

"The draft of the National Port Strategy is now at its final stage. We expect to complete the finalisation process within this year and begin implementation from January," said the adviser.

Sakhawat said ports have been playing a crucial role in Bangladesh's economic growth through trade and export-import activities, contributing significantly to GDP.

He, however, pointed out that in the 54 years since independence, the country never had a unified port management strategy, with each port operating and planning its development separately. "To ensure a modern and integrated port management system like in developed nations, the government has taken the initiative to formulate the National Port Strategy."

A high-level committee was formed to prepare the strategy, reviewing port policies of several advanced economies and incorporating insights from local and international experts, Sakhawat added.