Bangladesh Land Port Authority marks 24th anniversary

To commemorate the 24th anniversary of the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), a discussion meeting was held on 30 June 2025 at 10:00 AM at the BLPA headquarters. The event was held under the theme "Progress of Land Ports, Prosperity of the Economy."

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, Honorable Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, attended as the Chief Guest. The Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Mr. Mohammad Yusuf, joined as the Special Guest, and the meeting was presided over by BLPA Chairman Mr. Mohammad Manzurul Mannan.

In his address, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. Hussain stressed the strategic importance of land port management for national interests, highlighting the existing trade deficit in import-export activities and urging timely initiatives to address the issue. He emphasised that land ports, situated along the country's borders, are directly connected to national security, calling for strategic port management and policymaking.

Mr. Mohammad Yusuf lauded the modernization and infrastructural development of Benapole and Bhomra land ports and encouraged officers and staff to work collectively for continual improvement.

Concluding the event, BLPA Chairman Mr. Mannan called for the introduction of a One-Stop Service to enhance port management efficiency. He also highlighted the need to diversify export products through land ports to reduce the trade deficit and urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to consider approving increased import-export activities via land ports, similar to seaports.

The event was attended by Rear Admiral Masud Iqbal, Chairman of Payra Port Authority; Mr. Md. Salim Ullah, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC); Commodore Arif Ahmed Mustafa, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA); along with various officials and employees of BLPA.