Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS)- Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has called upon port and customs officials to take appropriate measures for delivery of the cargoes within four days from the port yards.
 
The minister expressed resentment over outdated state of most of the scanning machines in the country’s main seaport, asking the port and customs officials to make the machines functional immediately.

“How such important machines remained out of order for long, he asked saying “We will not allow such inaction, which is causing unusual delay in goods delivery and cargo congestion.”

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told this in a stocktaking meeting with the representatives of the port users, leading business persons and senior officials of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and Chattogram Customs House (CCH) here today.
 
The meeting was held at minister’s Mehdibagh residence in the city this afternoon marking his maiden visit in the port city after assuming office.

Mr. Khasru is elected parliament member from Chattogram-11 (Bandar-Patenga) constituency where a number of economic and industrial Key Point Installations including Chattogram Port, Chattogram Customs House, Eastern Refinery, airport and CEPZ are situated.

Leaders of Chattogram Port Users Forum assured the minister that they would work together for smooth and uninterrupted functioning of the port.

The finance minister said there is no alternative to operating the port with utmost efficiency and faster pace following best global practices. 

He said the cost of operating and service delivery must be reduced to an optimum level to avert negative impact on commodity price as well as trade and industrial production. 

The minister asked the CPA and CCH officials to convey the problems they are facing to the concerned ministries in written to expedite their solution. 

He assured them of overseeing and monitoring the problems in coordination with concerned ministries and CPA and customs officials for the sake of smooth functioning of the Chattogram port and accelerating trade and investment in Chattogram.

After hearing a number of problems from the port and custom related stakeholders, the minister solved some problems instantly after discussion with senior CPA and CCH officials.

“We will work to find pragmatic solutions of all problems in order to bring discipline and transparency in the port operation for greater interest of the economy” he said.

CCH Commissioner Md Shafi Ullah, CPA Member (Harbour) Md Abdullah, CPA Director (Security) Lt. Col Md Zahirul Islam, Convenor of Chattogram Port Users Forum Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury, President of C&F Agents Association S M Saiful Alam, General Secretary Md Shawkat Ali, former BGMEA First Vice President M A Salam and former CCCI Director Amirul Haque were present, among others.