The export of bamboo shoot is on the card as successful trial production has started since June 1 following setting up a Treatment and Scientific Processing Plant (TSPL), at a cost of Taka 85 lakh, beside Karnaphuli Tea Estate in Fatikchari upazila.

Project director Mohammad Jashim Uddin told BSS that nearly 450 acres of land was brought under bamboo shoot cultivation this year in Fatikchari and three other hill districts.

The production is expected to be in full swing from July this year. In this connection nearly five metric tons of bamboo shoot will be processed by the TSPL in first three months and the production will be increased after expanding the processing centers in December next, Jashim said.

As huge demand of Molly Bamboo in China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia for its deliciousness, we expect to export the bamboo shoot at six US dollar per kilogram, he added. The project director said the export growth rate is increasing to 20 percent every year. Bangladesh has a huge potential to utilize the Chinese technology and earn huge foreign currency like readymade garments and shrimp sectors, he added.

Mohammad Jashim Uddin, Project Director and head of the agriculture research division of Forest research Institute in Chittagong said China produces 2500 items of goods from bamboo including food, medicine and cosmetic and exports it to different countries including Japan and the United States. In this connection an agreement was signed between the Forest Research Institute in Chittagong and the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR) of China in September 2008.

Under the agreement ICBR transferred the technology in bamboo shoot production, processing and marketing from China to Bangladesh free of cost. The ICBR has also set up a TSPL over three acres of land in Fatikchhari beside the tea estate of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BARC), according to the agreement.

A total of Taka 1,37 crore was received as Common Fund for Commodity (CFC) by Bangladesh for bamboo cultivation project from International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBER), an organization of worldwide aiding for Bamboo production through International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), an organization of Bamboo and Rattan production aiding in China.

The project tenure is three years from January 2008 to December 2010.

After receiving the fund, the Forest Research Institute in Chittagong had started work to attract the farmers and big entrepreneurs to cultivate bamboo shoots.

A huge number of entrepreneurs and individuals had started cultivation of bamboo shoots in three hill districts and Fatikachhri upazila.

The cultivation will be doubled in next year, he said adding that the BFRI had organized four training programmes for the individuals and farmers of bamboo shoots in the last fiscal year.

The authorities also organized a training programme for the big entrepreneurs like BRAC and the officials of Forest Research Institute last month and three motivation programmes for the farmers and entrepreneurs in three hill district during the last six months for introducing the sectors and conveying the prospects about the cultivation of bamboo shoots.

The main objective of the project is to promote the grassroots level farmers about the cultivation and marketing of bamboo shoots and reduction poverty through creating employment, the project director said.

He said that they were contemplating to import different kinds of high yielding variety bamboo sapling from China from August next.

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The country??s overall trade deficit fell to $3.929 billion between July 2009 and March of this year from $4.062 billion during the same period the previous year, according to central bank statistics.

??Lower food grain imports as well as lower prices of essential items in the international market have contributed to reducing the trade gap during the period under review,?? a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank, the country??s central bank, told Media.

He also said the decline in the trade deficit may not continue in the coming months because of rising prices of commodities in the international market as major economies show signs of recovery.

During the period, export earnings stood at $15.485 billion against imports of $11.556 billion, the banks’s data showed.

Central bank officials said food imports continued to decline as the country has built enough stock of rice, the main food item, after record production of “Boro” and “Aman” crops in the last three consecutive years.

During the period, import of food grains dropped by 12.55 percent to $620.45 million against $709.51 million in the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

The officials, however, said food grain imports, particularly rice, have been increasing since April.

Food grain importation stood higher at 2.976 million tons during the July-April period of this fiscal compared to 2.649 million tons in the same period last yea

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The recently signed agreement included the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Yu-Kom-Publicidad S.L, a Spanish company, at the BGMEA head office in the capital, Dhaka on Tuesday.

BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy and Nuria Lopez of Yu-Kom-Publicidad S.L inked the deal on behalf of their respective organizations, according to a press statement.

Under the agreement, Yu-Kom-Publicidad S.L will provide unloading facilities for BGMEA members and if any company refuses their shipment the product is will be stored at the warehouse until they can be sold at proper prices.

Bangladesh exported a total of US$ 7.218 billion ready made garments to the European Union in fiscal year 2008-09.

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Prof Tamim revealed the new plan by the government at a seminar in the city, where a top businessman said that businesses would not take up new ventures if “energy security” was not ensured.

The government has also moved to allow direct transmission of power, generated in the private sector, to consumers, said M Tamim, a special assistant to the chief adviser, Wednesday.

Tamim, who is in charge of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, said the power transmission line would be opened to the private sector so that it could generate and consume its own electricity.

?The state-owned PDB?s electricity transmission lines would be opened for all investments by private entrepreneurs. They will be allowed to use national Power Grid network on fixed rent,? he added while addressing a seminar yesterday in the capital titled ?Better Business Through Eco and Energy Efficiency.?

The Seminar was jointly organised by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Speaking on the seminar, Dr Tamim also informed that the present Government is seriously considering importing liquid gas from Qatar to cope with current gas shortage in Bangladesh.

According to him, the Government will need over $20 billion investment in power sector in coming few years. Importing gas from Qatar is an effort to search alternative power source. Government has already initiated talk with its Qatar counterparts that would take some time to finalize the deal, he added.

Per unit liquid gas from Qatar would cost around Seven dollar, likely to be imported through pipelines or barge shipments, he informed.

He also urged the media to create mass-awareness among the people and motivate them to come forward for saving energy. ?Media can help change the habit of the people through motivation.?

Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of BGMEA, said that without energy assurance they would not enter any new venture.

He said that if the current energy situation continued, the local industry would perish in the next few years. He urged the government to make a 15 to 20-year energy action plan. “Prices were not important, but energy for a long period was. Prices should be competitive.”

BKMEA president Fazlul Hoque said that load shedding was occurring eight to ten times a day. “New investments must be made for energy conservation. Costs of raw materials have increased, but we have not cut wages.”

BD Rahmatullah, director of the Rural Electrification Board, said in his paper that more conservatively the peak demand of electricity could easily be shifted through efficient load management.

A high-powered Bangladesh delegation will soon visit Qatar to discuss the possibility of importing LNG (liquefied natural gas) from the Gulf country.

This was decided at a meeting at the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in Dhaka on Monday with its State Minister Enamul Haque in the chair. Prime Minister?s Advisor Dr. Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was also present.

The decision came in the backdrop of the government?s desperate move to resolve the nagging gas crisis through import.

At present, Bangladesh has been experiencing a shortfall of about 500 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) against its demand of 2,400 MMCFD. The shortfall in gas supply severely hit the power generation as well as industrial production.

Qatar has been one of the top LNG exporting countries in the Gulf region from which India and some other countries are now meeting their gas demand, a senior official, who attended the meeting, told newsmen in Dhaka.

That?s why Qatar will be our first preference as source of LNG import. Our delegation would first ensure the availability at cheaper price with suitable terms and conditions, he said.

The official said the meeting also discussed the setting up of a LNG terminal at the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh territory under private sponsorship.

The meeting also discussed the installation of a 90-kilometer pipeline to transmit gas from the terminal to a secure point in southeastern port city of Chittagong to feed the national gas grid.

As per decision of the meeting, the state-owned Gas Transmission Company of Bangladesh (GTCL) will initiate move for land acquisition to install the proposed gas pipeline

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Global recession failed to crimp Bangladesh’s exports to the European Union (EU) markets, as low-price edge enabled it to stay competitive, eclipsing its competitors, a top EU trade official said Monday

Bangladesh’s exports to the European Union increased by more than 6 per cent in 2009, despite significant decline in Europe’s two-way trade with almost all countries due to the fall-out of the global recession.

The European Union’s Dhaka office, however, sounded a note of caution by saying that the government would need to focus more on solving domestic problems such as the energy crisis to retain or enhance Bangladesh’s business competitiveness in the international market.

“The good news is about trade – how well Bangladesh performed in exports, particularly of readymade garments,” the European Union’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Stefan Frowein, told newsmen on Monday.

The country’s exports to the Common Market of 27 European Union countries stood at 5.8 billion euros in the calendar year of 2009, up by 6.3 per cent from the exports valued at 5.46 billion euros the previous year, showed official statistics.

Bangladesh attained positive growth in exports in the year when the European Union’s imports from all over the world declined by 23.4 per cent and imports from least developed countries went down by 23.2 per cent.

The ambassador appreciated Bangladesh’s performance, both in exports and remittances, and said the loans and grants that Bangladesh received in 2009, amounting to 2 billion euros, was equivalent to the value of exports of T-shirts and sweaters to the European market.

“Bangladesh has performed well without any change or deviation from policy,” said Zillul Hye Razi, trade analyst at the EU delegation’s office in Dhaka. Apart from Bangladesh only Qatar recorded a positive growth in exports to the EU market.

“Bangladesh’s prices are unbeatable. The country has really built a global cache for low-cost, basic clothing,” he said.

The delegation’s trade economist said the share of four broad categories – knitted t-shirt, sweater, woven shirt and trouser -remained overwhelming within the apparel products.

His comments came as Bangladesh’s exports grew by 6.3 per cent to 5.8 billion -euro in 2009 when China, India and Vietnam’s growth went negative. China’s exports growth came down to 13.4 per cent, India’s 13.9 per cent, while growth of Vietnam slashed to 9.5 per cent last year.

“Except for Qatar, with export of about 3 billion euro, there is no significant exporting country with a positive growth in exports to the EU in 2009,” the trade adviser told reporters at his office as he revealed the new finding.

Although the government of Bangladesh has not provided support to exporters for cutting per unit prices of exportable items including apparels, he mentioned that the country’s manufacturers were still competitive in the international arena.

“Unless Bangladesh is competitive why are the buyers coming up with orders that the exporters do not dare to accept in view of domestic factors, including the energy crisis?” he said, adding that Bangladesh has been an automatic choice for global retailers.

The trade expert mentioned that there were allegations of exports from other countries to the European market in the name of Bangladesh through fraudulent means to utilise duty concessions under the Generalised System of Preference.

When he was asked why Bangladesh had performed well in spite of the declining demand for consumer items, Frowein pointed out that the consumers in the West had to choose Bangladeshi items, most of which were ‘lower-end but basic products’ like T-shirts.

Bangladesh ranked fourth after China and Turkey in exporting readymade garments to the European Union in 2009.

However, the country’s apparel exports are based on only four items – t-shirts, sweaters, trousers and denims. “Lack of diversity is the basic weakness and a matter of concern for Bangladesh. It has narrow basket and only a few export destinations,” said Razi.

Other than garments, exports of some other items such as jute and jute goods, pharmaceutical products, ceramics, plastic products and vegetables decline in the year.

Stefan Frowein said that shipbuilding could be a potential sector for Bangladesh in the coming years as many countries are no longer competitive in that area.

He also told a questioner that Bangladesh’s image in the international arena improved in 2009 due to handling of the climate change issue by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

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Most Bangladeshis earn their living from agriculture. Although rice and jute are the primary crops, wheat is assuming greater importance. Tea is grown in the northeast. Because of Bangladesh’s fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas. Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh’s labor-intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions. These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilizers, and the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks. With 35.8 million metric tons produced in 2000, rice is Bangladesh’s principal crop. National sales of the classes of insecticide used on rice, including granular carbofuran, synthetic pyrethroids, and malathion exceeded 13,000 tons of formulated product in 2003 . The insecticides not only represent an environmental threat, but are a significant expenditure to poor rice farmers. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is working with various NGOs and international organizations to reduce insecticide use in rice .

The climate of Bangladesh is tropical, hot and humid in summer and cool in winter. It rains heavily in monsoon. The temperature in summer ranges 21 degree Celsius while the minimum during the winter is 9 degree Celsius.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated areas of the world with a population of about 130 million. About 86.6% of the total population is Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians make up the rest of the population. Bangladesh offers the extremes of wildlife from the blue whale, which occasionally appears in the Bay of Bengal- and the Asian elephant to the tiny pigmy shrew, the smallest mammal. The bird life ranges from the showy peacock to the tiny sparrow and the talkative Mynas, while the reptile world has the king Cobra, one of the world’s most deadly snakes and the Python, one of the largest Top of the wildlife atractions are of course, the cats-from Royal Bengal Tigers and leopards to the small fishing cat

Tourists can enjoy easily because of the language. The state language and mother language is Bangla. English is widely spoken and understood.

In transport sector, Bangladesh is now very rich. Bangladesh can be reached by air from any part of the world. Biman Bangladesh Airlines connects Dhaka with 25 major cities of the world. It also operates in 8 domestic routes. Besides Biman international carriers also fly to and for from Dhaka. Private airlines also fly on the domestic routes.

Here is a good accommodation capacity also. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the national tourism organization, runs a number of modern hotels, motels and cotages throughout the country. There are also many private hotels that provide efficient service and competitive prices. Visitors can also take accommodation in rest houses belonging to different government departments and other agencies. Besides, Dhaka, Chitagong, and Cox’s Bazar have quite a few international standard hotels.

Bangladesh is also a land of very tasty food. Local and foreign foods are available hare. Western, Chinese. Thai, Japanese and Korean cuisinne are available in most standard restaurants and hotels in major cities. Local delicacies include a wide verity of curries, vegetable dishes, and meat and fish preparations such as Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Mosala roast, Muton, Chicken and Prawn are also popular. Most local restaurants serve a variety of rice preparations-Polao, Biriyani, Khinchuri-as well as substitutes such as Moglai and plain Parata, Naan Ruti, Chapati, which go well with curries. Sea fish and sweet water fish are available in most restaurants.

The locally taken hot drink known as Cha is the most popular drink. Tea produced in Bangladesh ranks among the best in the world. Coffee is served in most hotels and restaurants in cities. Among cold drinks, Lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink is a popular summer time treat Soft drinks of most global brands are available everywhere in the country. Only big hotels and bars serve hard drinks. All bars are closed on Friday.

Besides, Misti Doi-sweetened yoghurt, Halua-a common dessert which comes in many shades from egg Halua to carrot, wheat cheese. Almond, Pistachio and so on. Sandesh-milk made dessert, Zarda-sweetened rice with nuts, Firni rice flower cooked in milk and sugar with flavouring, Rasogolla and Kalojam-two popular milk- based dessert (sweetmeat) made with sugar, flour and ghee. Rosho Malai-sweet floating in thick milk, Pitha-a common name for cakes or pasties-in varieties such as Chitoi, Dhupi, Puli, Bhapa, Pakan etc that are available throughout the country.

Among wide varieties of seasonal fruits of Bangladesh are Leechies, Mangoes, (king of fruits), Blackberries, Kanthals, Bananas, Jackfruits, Watermelons, Papaws, Pineapples, Coconuts and Oranges.

Places of historical interest: Dhaka

Dhaka founded in 1608 as the seat of the Imperial Moghuls victory over Bengal. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has grown from a placid litle town to a bustling city of close to 13 million people. Dhaka is the hub of most industrial and commercial activities in the country.

Suhrawardy Udyan (garden): Located at a stone’s throw from Dhaka Hotel and partly within the campus of Dhaka University, this udyan formerly a race course bears testimony to our historical struggle for Independence. It is here where the Commander of the occupation forces surrendered with 95,000 soldiers on 16 December in 1971.

Lalbagh Fort: The fort of Aurangzeb popularly known as the Lalbagh Fort was built in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam, son of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb, who was the Viceroy of Bengal.

Mosques: Dhaka is renowned as a city of Mosques. Among more than a couple of thousands of Mosques, the prominent ones are the Seven Domed Mosques (17th century), the Star mosque (18th century) and Baitul Mukkarram, national Mosque built in 1960′s.

Temples- Among the more prominent of the Hindu Temples are the Dhakeshwari Temple (11th century) and Ram Krishna Mission.

Buddhist Monasteries- The Kamlapur Buddhist Monasteries at Kamalapur and Merul Badda are two notable Buddhist temples of Dhaka.

Churches- Dhaka has a number of old churches of which the Armenian Church (1781), St Marry’s Cathedral in Ramna and St Thomas’s Cathedral (1677) at Tejgaon are the most prominent

Shahid Minar- The graceful monument situated near the Dhaka Medical College Hospital commemorates the martyrs of the historical Language Movement of 1952.

Banga Bhaban- A splendid piece of architecture, Banga Bhaban is the official residence of the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

National Museum- Housed in an impressive building at Shahbag, the Museum contains a large number of exhibits including sculpture, coins, paintings and inscriptions.

Ramna Green-Ramna Green is the largest park in the city with vast stretches of well-kept ground with a lake that cuts it into half. The park is also the venue for many national functions.

National Park- The National Park is situated at Rajendrapur, 40 km north of Dhaka in the magnificent Bhawal region along Dhaka-Mymenisngh highway. The vast 1600 acres of forested area is an ideal destination for eco-tourism).

National Mausoleum- Located at Savar, in the suburb of Dhaka city, the splendid memorial commemorates the Martyrs of the War of Independence in 1971. The sprawling campus of Jahangirnagar University is located nearby.

Memorial for the Martyrs of 1857 (Bahadur Shah Park)- The Memorial commemorates the martyrs of the first Liberation War (1857-59) against the British rule. It was here that rebel soldiers and their civilian compatriots were publicly hanged.

Muktijuddho Museum- Situated at Segun Bagicha, it possesses a rich collection of rare photographs of Liberation War and articles used by the freedom fighters.

Ahsan Manzil-Located at on the bank of River Buriganga in the old part of Dhaka. Ahsan Manzil is a reminder of the nation’s rich cultural heritage. The large mansion was built in the Victorian style with some elements of late Braque thrown in. It was the home of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Recently renovated and painted in bright pink, the mansion has been converted into a museum containing articles and utensils used by the Nawabs.

National Assembly Complex-The magnificent National Assembly complex building with ancillary traces was designed by the world renowned architect Luis Kahn and is considered one of the landmarks of modern architecture. Baldah Garden-Baldah Garden situated in the old part of the city, has a very rich collection of rare species of plants and flowers.

Narayanganj-16 km away from Dhaka on the bank of River Sitalakhya,. Narayanganj is the biggest inland river port of Bangladesh.

Sonargaon-30 km to the south-east of Dhaka lies Sonargaon, an ancient capital of Bengal. It was the seat of Dev dynasty until the 13th century. From this period onward until the advent of the Moghuls Sonargaon was a subsidiary capital of the Sultanate of Bengal.

From all the aspects we are very proud to say that bangladesh is full of natural agricultural environment. but besides this we are not using this treasure with properly. If we can use our DESI product properly we can earn a lots of foriegn currenncy and also the country people could enjoy the DESI product.

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DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh will persuade China to use Chittagong port as a commercial outlet for its southern Yunnan province, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said on Sunday.

The Bangladesh stance was announced nearly three months after Bangladesh had agreed to allow India, Nepal and Bhutan to use its two sea ports mainly Chittagong port.

“It will be a great achievement if China agrees to use our Chittagong port, which we want to develop into a regional commercial hub by building a deep seaport in the Bay of Bengal,” she told a news conference.

The offer for Chittagong port to Beijing will be discussed when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits China from Wednesday on a five-day itinerary, Moni said.

The impoverished south Asian country has taken plans to build an $8.7 billion deep-sea port in three phases to raise bulk cargo handling capacity to 100 million tonnes and container handling to 3.0 million twenty-feet equivalent unit (TEU) containers annually by 2055.

Presently the port handles 30.5 million tonnes of bulk cargo and 1.1 million TEUs annually.

Port officials said when built the port would serve Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar and the northeastern region of India.

To use Chittagong port China will need a road or railway link or both between Kunming, the capital of southern Yunnan province with Chittagong via Myanmar, Moni said.

Myanmar last year had agreed to expand a planned road project with Bangladesh to link up with China in a tri-nation network, another foreign ministry official said.?

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a deal in July 2007 to construct a 25 km (16 mile) road to connect the two countries and construction will begin soon, officials at the Communication Ministry said.

The road project between Myanmar and Bangladesh is nearing completion, a senior foreign ministry official said on Sunday.

Chinese investment for Bangladesh’s energy and IT sectors, boosting trade and seeking assistance for building a $9 billion deep seaport and a $2.5 billion river bridge will be on top of Hasina’s agenda.

China is Bangladesh’s biggest trade partner with annual turnover worth more than $4 billion — with the balance heavily in Beijing’s favour.

If they agreed with our offer i think that bangladesh can use the port properly & also can have a lots of posibilities of foriegn exchange & trade.

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The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), established in 1959, is a premier Chamber of Bangladesh. It provides a wide spectrum of services to the trade and industry and acts as a catalyst for growth of business in the country.

The Chamber has been all along very keen to address the requirements of the commercial capital and aspirations of entrepreneurs so that a congenial atmosphere is assured for growth of trade, industry & economy including induction of more FDI to some potential sectors that offer alluring profit guarantee. As part of its various trade promotional activities, CCCI has been arranging Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF) – the largest international trade fair in the country for the last fifteen consecutive years and the event has been a total success with respect to enthusiastic participation by leading local, foreign and multinational business & manufacturing enterprises of Asia, Europe, USA and African countries.

Since its humble striding in 1992, CITF has created a tremendous enthusiasm among the exhibitors & visitors registering a significant growth in terms of participants, sales and promotion of products/services. With the passage of time, the event has emerged as the largest international trade fair of the country in term of participation.

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One suitable sadar union in every rural upzila and unions surrounding cities and district towns should be ear marked, especially for vegetable production. Types of vegetable are to be selected on the basis of soil condition, climate and season. Government has to extend necessary inputs for vegetable production at the doorsteps of the farmers. Farmers should be motivated to grow vegetables.

Vegetables generate cash to the growers. It would help to reduce dependence on rice. We know modern science says that eating excess rice, which we do in general, is not good from the health point of view.

Documentary film may be made on each vegetable showing different important aspects like, transplant seedlings, plant cultivation, insect protection, use of fertilizer, harvesting, storing and grading, selling vegetable etc. and storing vegetable seeds for future use. The documentary should be telecasted repeatedly through available electronic media.

Owing to budgetary procedural limitation innovative or experimental projects could hardly be taken by the relevant ministry or its attached offices. A special additional allocation — may be 3% to 5% of the revenue allocation per annum — could be given extra to each ministry with delegated authority to undertake and implement innovative or experimental projects.

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She said Chittagong and Mongla ports will be prepared for the use of neighbouring countries by implementing various plans including construction of new container terminal, purchasing modern equipment for the two ports and carrying out capital dredging from Sadarghat to the third Karnaphuli Bridge.

The government also plans to construct new river ports at Noapara, Bhairab-Ashuganj and Barguna and a new inland container terminal at Pangaon. Besides, land ports at Teknaf, Hili, Banglabandha and Bibirbazar will be made operative after development work, Hasina said in her scripted answer to a query.

?Only 40 percent capacity of Chittagong port and 10 percent of Mongla port is being currently used. Revenue earning will be more than double when the usage is increased,? she said, adding that the earning will be increased further when neighbouring countries will be allowed to use the two seaports. This will also generate new employment opportunities.

On setting up a deep-sea port at Sonadia Island, Hasina said in light of a cabinet decision work is on to prepare detailed design of the port and explore foreign fund.

The premier said her government plans to introduce computerised container terminal management system at Chittagong Port, construct backward linkage at terminals 4 and 5 at New Mooring container terminal, appoint private global operator for running the terminal.

She said two vessels, one for oily waste reception and another for solid waste, will be purchased to improve environment management of Chittagong Port.

?Radiation detection equipment will be installed at Chittagong Port under the US Megaports Initiative to prevent smuggling of nuclear and radioactive goods through global maritime system,? the premier said.

The Karnaphuli container terminal will be constructed replacing expired jetties 11-13 at Chittagong Port. A multi-storey car-parking shed will be built at the port, she said.

Hasina said the government has planned for bank protection and capital dredging from Sadarghat to the third Karanphuli Bridge to protect important establishments at Chittagong Port from possible risk, and ensure discipline berthing of ships and navigability in Karanphuli channel.

On the development of Mongla Port, Hasina said her government plans to collect cargo handling equipment, cutter suction dredger, dispatch boat, and carry out dredging at outer bar of the Pashur channel and harbour area of the port.

She said activities of Benapole land port will be brought under automation to bring dynamism and transparency in its functions. The port will also have its own cargo handling equipment. Besides, a project to modernise the port will be implemented in two phases, she said.

The premier said Bhomra land port and Barisal river port will also be developed.

Besides, railway network will be set up across the country as well as the network from Dhaka to Cox?s Bazar will be expanded.

Hasina said the number of lanes on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway will be increased to six in phases as the process for upgrading the highway into a four-lane one has begun.

Bangladesh: Chittagong and Mongla port prepared for use by neighbours, deep-sea port to be constructed

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