Bangladesh river port being upgraded

The Bangladesh Government has started the process to construct a container transshipment port of international standard in Ashuganj, shipping minister Shahjahan Khan said.


If this project is implemented successfully, both countries, the other being India, will benefit from it, he said, reported The Financial Express (Bangladesh).


Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan visited the Ashuganj river port and reviewed transportation activities of Indian ODC goods.


The project will be completed by 2013, but trade activities may start earlier as Ashuganj already has some infrastructure.


Three international standard container terminal jetties, Customs office, BIWTA office, port office, crane yard, warehouse, electricity sub-station, truck yard, rest house and other infrastructures will be implemented through this project.


In the meantime, a project was approved for refurbishing the 49-km road from Ashuganj to Akhaura. The government is planning to make the road suitable for cargo shipments, a reliable source said.


India will supply the equipment needed to develop the Ashuganj port to international standards. Ashuganj, in the Brahmanbaria district of Chittagong division, will become the port of call for consignments bound for its Paltana power project in Tripura.
Bangladeshi goods, including cosmetics, food and beverages, toiletries, hardware and batteries, will also be exported to the northeastern territories of India via the newly commissioned port.


The Ashuganj river port will become the second transhipment point for Indian cargo shipped to Tripura and beyond, to other Indian states in its northeastern region.


The first transhipment point in Bangladesh opened in Sherpur, Sylhet, in 1972, but never operated, as it lacked infrastructure.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)