Chapainawabganj: Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain has announced plans for the expansion of the Sonamasjid Land Port. He emphasized the importance of the port for inter-country communication and mentioned that it will be prioritized in projects financed by the World Bank. This statement was made during a meeting with local administrative and customs officials, as well as trade union bodies.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, M Sakhawat Hussain, who also serves as an adviser for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, highlighted the port’s longstanding significance. He acknowledged the demands for the port’s expansion and the construction of a link road. To initiate this development, he instructed the local Deputy Commissioner to submit a development plan proposal.
The adviser noted that several ports have been developed with the support of the World Bank in the past. He expressed that, if funding is available, a similar expansion project could be undertaken for the Sonamasjid Land Port. Additionally, he mentioned plans to construct a 3-kilometer road from the port to alleviate traffic congestion and a hospital to provide treatment for workers.
The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Land Ports Authority Chairman Mohammad Manzarul Mannan and attended by notable figures including Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment AHM Shafiquzzaman, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Khondaker Azim Ahmed, National Board of Revenue Member Al Amin Pramanik, Commissioner of Custom Excise and VAT Mohammad Faizur Rahman, Chapainawabganj Chamber President Abdul Wahed, Managing Director of Panama Port Link Limited Zahura Nowsaba, Chairman Atiqur Rahman Khan, and President of Sonamasjid Import-Export Group Alhaj Ekramul Haque.