Ministerial committee recommends closure of six sick ports

A committee of the Shipping Ministry on Monday recommended closing six non-profitable and inactive ports under the Bangladesh Land Ports Authority.

The committee after a meeting at the conference room of the ministry, discussed on eight inactive and non-profitable ports and recommended closing six of them.

The committee also decided to submit a report on the issue to the adviser for the Ministry of Shipping and Labour and Employment, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr Sakhawat Hossain after the inspection and discussion with its stakeholders.

The adviser told the meeting that various establishments were built in many places during the period of the last government which could not contribute to the welfare of the country, rather huge state exchequers were spent for that.

Two land ports were established at a particular upazila within a small distance, he said, adding that those land ports will remain active which would be profitable and helpful for the people of the country.

The ports that were recommended to close are Chilhati Land Port in Nilphamari district, Daulatganj Land Port in Chuadanga district, Tegamug Land Port in Rangamati district, Birol Land Port in Dinajpur district, Koraitoli Land Port in Mymensingh district, and Balla Land Port in Habiganj district.

The committee recommended closing these land ports due to a lack of economic activities, and no establishments were developed on the Indian side of these ports.

Senior Secretary to the Shipping Ministry and the committee members were present at the meeting.