Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain met with representatives of the UAE's Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group today at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. Photo: PID

   DHAKA, Jan 28, 2025 (BSS) – A UAE enterprise today expressed its desire to invest for infrastructural development of Mongla Port alongside the one in Chattogram as Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said the government planned to turn the south-western seaport into a regional trade hub.

   According to a shipping ministry statement, a delegation of UAE’s AD Group, specialised in developing seaports, expressed their desire as the adviser told them geographic location gave the Mongla Port a unique feature to be turned to be an inter country trade hub.

   “Mongla Port, as the country’s second biggest seaport, will be built as an inter-country communication and trade centre,” the statement quoted him as telling Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group representatives at his Bangladesh Secretariat office in the capital.

   Hossain said the geographic location and closer proximity made the port a potential location of foreign trades of neighbouring India, Bhutan and Nepal.

   He said port’s distance with Dhaka by road is just 210 kilometres while there are existing riverine and railway communication systems to connect the facility with different parts of the country.

   “Mongla port has already been playing an important role in import and export in Bangladesh,” he said seeking the AD Group’s investment for developing its infrastructure.

   Hossain said the AD Group and other foreign and local investors have opportunity to invest in the port expecting lucrative returns.

   The statement said the AD Group delegation told the adviser that they are interested to invest for infrastructure development of Mongla as well as Chittagong seaports along with other ports of Bangladesh.

   They particularly expressed interest to be a party in constructing the Bay Terminal of the Chittagong Port aimed to make it an international facility.

   The adviser appreciated the AD Group’s interest saying once constructed the Bay terminal would enhance Bangladesh’s import and export in a reduced time frame and help expand trade and commerce and attract foreign investments.

   UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Al Hamudi led the Abu Dhabi Group in the meeting joined as well by concerned ministry officials.