Dhaka, Aug 11 (bdnews24.com) - The operations of Akhaura land port began as a fully fledged port on Friday.
Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan inaugurated the upgraded port at about 11:30am. Local MP Shah Alam was present, among others, at the inauguration.
The start of Akhaura land port as a full-fledged port on Friday paved the way for exports of Bangladeshi products to seven north-eastern states in India, he said.
This port will play a role in cutting our trade deficit with India, even if it is to only some extent, and the government will do everything that is needed to develop the export-oriented port, Khan said.
The customs station of Akhaura was announced as a full-fledged land port on Jan 12, 2002, but it could not be fully operational for lack of infrastructural development.
To develop the port it was later listed as a 'Private Sector Infrastructure Project' on Aug 11, 2005.
The cost of the port development was estimated at Tk 8.75 crore, of which Tk 4.5 crore has so far been used in the port development.
Land Port Authority chairman A K M Yahya Chowdhury, who spoke to bdnews24.com regarding the port last Wednesday, said the that 'minimum' infrastructure and facilities needed to run it as a full-fledged land port has already been built.
Chowdhury said that while "these facilities are still at a very primary level. The port will be developed as a modern one in the future."
Authority officials said further development will be done under the 'build-operate-transfer arrangement', adding that 21 firms have qualified for the final bidding of the work.
The port earns its income mainly from exports to seven Indian states. Bangladesh exported around 442,955 tonnes of products and imported just 557 tonnes through the port in last fiscal year.
The exports from the port includes fish, cement, battery, furniture, glass, plastic items, soybean oil and tiles. Imports include bamboo, turmeric, watches, ginger, marble slabs, fish, leather, textiles, machinery and fruits.
Shipping ministry secretary Abdul Mannan Howlader presided over the inauguration ceremony.
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