Govt body recommends closure of 3 land ports, suspension of one

A government committee has recommended the complete closure of three unprofitable and inactive land ports and the suspension of operational activities at another port along the Bangladesh-India border.

The three land ports under the Bangladesh Land Port Authority proposed for closure are Chilahati Land Port in Nilphamari, Daulatganj Land Port in Chuadanga, and Tegamukh Land Port in Rangamati.

Additionally, the inter-ministerial committee has recommended suspending operations of Balla Land Port in Habiganj, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Shipping today.

After his appointment, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain conducted on-site inspections of various land ports across the country.

During his visits, he instructed the formation of a high-level committee to investigate and report on land ports that were constructed under previous administrations but remain unprofitable and inactive, the press release stated.

On November 6 last year, the Ministry of Shipping formed a six-member committee comprising representatives from the ministries of shipping, finance, and road transport and bridges, the National Board of Revenue, and the Bangladesh Land Port Authority.

The committee was tasked with evaluating the operational status and viability of the following eight land ports.

The eight ports are: Nakugaon Land Port in Sherpur; Gobrakura-Karaitali Land Port in Mymensingh; Dhanua Kamalpur Land Port in Jamalpur; Balla Land Port in Habiganj; Birol Land Port in Dinajpur; Chilahati Land Port in Nilphamari; Daulatganj Land Port in Chuadanga; Tegamukh Land Port in Rangamati.

After conducting field inspections and analysing operational data, infrastructure, accessibility, and economic feasibility, the committee submitted its report to the adviser.

The committee recommended the closure of the three ports as these ports lack the necessary infrastructure for operations, and their economic potential is deemed insufficient to justify further development.

They proposed to suspend operations at Balla Land Port as the Indian side of the port at Kedarakote has no infrastructure or road connectivity, making cross-border trade unviable.

They also recommended the consolidation of Gobrakura-Karaitali Land Port. Instead of operating two separate locations, activities should be centralised at a single site, it said.