Hili land port under private management from Nov 15

Chairman of Bangladesh Land Port Authority Md. Aftab Hossain yesterday visited Hili land port, which is expected to start operation under private management on November 15.
Import-export under private operator Panama Port Link Ltd was to start yesterday but was deferred till November 15 for further streamlining services, port sources said.
A meeting will be held at Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner's office today, in which Md. Aftab Hossian will be present as chief guest, official sources said.
Ananta Kumar Chatterjee Nepal, Managing Director of Panama Port Link, said necessary infrastructures including five warehouses, loading and unloading yards for trucks and security room have been built on 10 acres of land to operate port.
According Hili land port official sources, the immediate past BNP government initiated handover over operation of the land port to a private operator to improve services. The work was given to Panama through a bidding in 2005.
As per terms, the company will operate the land port for 25 years with 51 per cent share while the rest amount will be deposited to national exchequer.
Joint Commissioner of Hili land port recently visited the facilities created by Panama and held a meeting with all stakeholders.