05/19/2024 None has chewed money from reserves
Azhar Mahmud
2022-10-28 10:36:55
Live Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said money from the country's foreign currency reserves is being used for development activities, imports, and the people's welfare, as she inaugurated and laid foundation-stone of several development schemes at the Payra Seaport which are being implemented with own financing.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for continuing dredging of the naval routes every year after their capital dredging to maintain their navigability.
She said her government is arranging dredgers for every seaport as maintenance dredging is required every year to ensure the navigability of the ports,
The premier said her government wanted to connect the seaport with North Bengal and it can also be connected with Assam of India and Bhutan, adding that her government had already allowed India, Nepal, and Bhutan to use the Mongla and Chattogram seaports.
She said the Payra Seaport has special importance as it is situated in between Mongla and Chattogram seaports, adding that the Payra Seaport has so far earned revenues worth over Tk 600 crore since its operation started.
The premier said she had to face opposition from many people when she wanted to build it, adding that they opposed the move saying that it would not be viable.
She said the capital dredging of the seaport's Rabnabad channel will create a 75km-long, 100-125meter-wide, and 10.5 meter-deep channel, building a capacity to dock 40,000 tons of cargo or 3,000 container-laden ships at the port.
About the inauguration of the eight ships, she said seven of the ships were being built at various dockyards in Bangladesh.
She said she had the plan to build a rail bridge to connect the Payra Seaport after opening the construction work of a 1,180-meter-long bridge over the Andharmanik river to transport goods to the Payra Seaport.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Shipping Secretary Md. Mostafa Kamal and Payra Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail spoke at the function held at Payra Port, Kalapara in Patuakhali. A documentary on the Payra Port and the development projects was screened on the occasion.
Dhaka, 27 October (campuslive24.com)//AIT