CCCI rally today

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will hold a jubilant rally and take out a colourful procession in the port city today to celebrate the declaration of Chittagong as the commercial capital and allotment of land for CCCI-proposed World Trade Centre (WTC).

The local businessmen and people from all walks of life will take part in the celebrations to be held at the Chittagong outer stadium at 10.30am.

Earlier, a preparatory committee was formed with former CCCI vice-president MA Latif as its convenor and Faruq-e-Azam, Bir Protik, and C&F Association President AKM Akter Hossain as joint convenors to make the programme a success.

At a press conference yesterday, the CCCI leaders said that thirty arches have been erected in the city on the occasion.

CCCI president Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury spoke of the need to develop infrastructural and other facilities to turn Chittagong into commercial capital.

The CCCI president said that while the cabinet approved the proposal for commercial capital on January 6, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia directed the ministries concerned to implement 15 development projects that would be required for the commercial capital on an urgent basis.

About the construction of WTC, the CCCI president said the process had already started and the physical work would start as soon as railway hands over the land.

He further disclosed that air freight unit would start functioning at Chittagong port soon and it is likely to be inaugurated formally on January 18.

CCCI senior vice-president Ershad Ullah, vice-president Monjur Ul Amin Chowdhury, the directors of CCCI and a number of businessmen attended the press conference.