Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stated that necessary measures will be taken progressively through thorough legal, administrative and infrastructural reviews to transform the port city of Chattogram into a modern and full-fledged commercial capital.
He revealed this state plan today, Wednesday (June 10, 2026), in a written response to a query from Member of Parliament Jashim Uddin Ahmed during the question-and-answer session of the National Parliament. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom presided over the parliamentary session.
Prime Minister said, “Chattogram is the country’s primary seaport, the main hub for import-export and a leading city for commerce and industry. Chattogram Port has historically played a vital and pioneering role in the overall economic development of the country.”
Highlighting past history before the parliament, he stated,
“In 2003, the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia officially declared Chattogram as the country’s ‘Commercial Capital’. However, due to the indifference of subsequent governments after that historic declaration, no effective administrative order or gazette was issued regarding this matter.”
The Prime Minister further noted that building Chattogram into a true commercial capital for rapid economic growth and industrialization is included as a top priority in the current government’s election manifesto. The government is giving special importance to the development and modernization of Chattogram to transform it into an international-standard commercial capital and a primary employment hub.
However, he commented that merely declaring it in name is not enough to establish Chattogram as a true commercial capital; port development alone will not suffice. He added, “For this, sustainable and integrated steps must be taken across all sectors, including the economy, infrastructure, urban management, a favorable investment climate, an international airport and an advanced communication system.”
The head of government also outlined the steps being taken to achieve this goal. He informed that to elevate Chattogram’s capacity to international standards, various initiatives have been undertaken, including the construction of modern container terminals, the modernization of container handling systems, speeding up customs and digital services, the construction of a deep-sea port, expanding multi-modal transport networks, increasing river navigability and streamlining cargo unloading operations.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed strong optimism that if swift cargo transport connectivity can be established from the port to different industrial zones and other regions of the country, effective commercial communication is maintained with key global ports, and a single-window clearance system is fully operationalized, it will soon be possible to establish Chattogram Port as a full-fledged and successful commercial capital.
