Master plan for Payra Port underway: Shipping Minister

Master plan for Payra Port underway: Shipping Minister

Ittefaq Saturday 9th March 2019

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the master plan for the Payra Port is underway in order to develop the river port as the port authority has signed a deal with a Belgian company to start capital dredging on the Rabnabad channel.

“The Payra Port Authority has signed a deal with a Belgian company aiming to develop the Payra Port for the people and the government is working in this regard,” the minister told reporters on Friday while visiting the development activities of the Payra Port, the third river port of the country at Kalapara under Patuakhali district.

The minister added that the economy of the country can be driven forward only if the river routes are navigable.

He expressed satisfaction over the development works of the port, adding that the ruling Awami League does politics for the development.

“A vested quarter began occupying the rivers illegally to stay in power. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has changed the course with her relentless efforts aiming to develop the country,” he added.

Later, the state minister visited the Payra coal-based power plant.

Lawmaker Mahibur Rahman Mahib, Chairman of the Payra Port Authority Commodore M Jahangir Alam, Awami League Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afjal Hossain and district and upazila level senior officials, among others, were also present on the occasion.