Ctg port must emerge as best with international standard facilities to help grow economy

Describing the Chittagong port as the heart country's economy, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Chittagong Port would have to turn into a truest seaport making it an international standard port.

He said a new chapter in Bangladesh’s economy cannot be opened ignoring the Chittagong Port and laid emphasis on expanding its capacity and make it stronger gradually.

"Bangladesh’s economy cannot be seen as the best economy if the port is not made the best port," Prof Yunus said.

The Chief Adviser said they are talking with the best companies of the world having vast experience in port handling.

He laid emphasis on moving in faster way to address the port issues.

The Chief Adviser said the enhanced port facilities will help attract foreign investment in a big way and Bangladesh's economy will see a massive growth.

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General Dr M Sakhawat Hussain and Chittagong Port Authority Chittagong Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman also spoke at the programme.

Upon arrival here on Wednesday morning, the Chief Adviser first visited Chittagong Port and attended the programme at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT-5) premises.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Energy Adviser Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Education Adviser CR Abrar, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Fisheries and Livestocks Adviser Farida Akhter, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present.

After visiting the Chittagong port, he went to the Chattogram Circuit House, where unveiled the foundation stone of the Kalurghat Bridge over the Karnaphuli River.

Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan also spoke at the unveiling ceremony.

"It's a historic bridge," Prof Yunus said, expressing his satisfaction as the new journey began and it will be implemented in the next three years.

The long-anticipated bridge is expected to greatly benefit residents on the river’s southern bank, including those in Boalkhali and Patiya upazilas.

Officials will also brief the Chief Adviser on key urban challenges, including waterlogging in Chattogram City and traffic congestion on Hathazari Road from the Oxygen Intersection.

In addition, Prof Yunus will hand over land documents for the Chattogram National Heart Foundation to the concerned authorities.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus began his visit to his home district of Chattogram on Wednesday morning for the first time since taking office, with a series of engagements planned during his roughly 12-hour stay.

Professor Yunus, who left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:45am, landed at Shah Amanat International Airport at 9:22am, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.

He will attend as the chief guest at the fifth convocation of Chittagong University (CU), where he will also deliver the convocation address, officials said.

In recognition of his contributions, Chittagong University will confer upon him an honorary Doctor of Letters (D Litt) degree.

A former faculty member of CU’s Economics Department and a Nobel Laureate, his return to the campus is being hailed as a historic moment.

After the convocation, Professor Yunus will travel to his ancestral home in Bathua village of Shikarpur union, Hathazari upazila.

Chittagong University will host the largest convocation in the country’s history on Tuesday, awarding degrees to 22,586 students.

The event is set to take place on the university’s scenic 2,300-acre campus nestled in the hills of Hathazari, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

The central event will be held at CU’s north campus field, where a 150,000-square-foot pavilion has been erected to accommodate over 25,000 guests.

The convocation will be broadcast live on LED screens placed at five key locations across campus.

In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degree recipients, the university will honour 42 PhD awardees and 33 MPhil scholars.

CU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Yeahia Akhter described the convocation as “an academic celebration—an apex moment for any student,” noting that CU students have been deprived of this experience for nearly a decade.

“Thanks to the success of the anti-discrimination movement, we are finally making this happen,” he told reporters.