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Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has directed all sea, land, and airports across the country to operate 24 hours a day to facilitate trade and commerce, expedite import-export activities, and strengthen the investment-friendly environment.
He issued this directive on Saturday (August 1) during a high-level meeting with the country’s top businessmen and industrialists at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the capital. Dr. Mahdi Amin, the Prime Minister’s Advisor and Office Spokesperson, informed journalists about the matter in a briefing held after the meeting.
He stated that during the meeting, representatives from the private sector proposed operating import-export related activities 24 hours a day at Chattogram Port and Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister immediately issued the necessary instructions.
Mahdi Amin further informed that, as per the Prime Minister’s directive, all relevant government agencies will take initiatives, through coordination, to ensure 24-hour service at every port in the country. The government anticipates that this will make import-export activities faster, more efficient, and more competitive.
He added that the extensive meeting included detailed discussions on various existing issues in the business and industrial sectors, barriers to investment, and necessary policy reforms for the development of the private sector. Business leaders presented their various proposals, and relevant ministers, advisors, and heads of different departments offered their opinions on these subjects.
The meeting also discussed ways to increase domestic and foreign investment in the economic zones under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). Views were exchanged on the types of complexities that exist and how they can be resolved.
Dr. Mahdi Amin stated that the government is committed to providing continuous policy support for the development of the private sector. The government’s objective is to increase investment, accelerate industrialization, and create more employment opportunities for youth and women through pro-business and pro-investment policies.
He further added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, efforts are underway to create an economic environment where doing business will be easier, investor confidence will grow, and economic growth will be sustainable.
The spokesperson concluded the briefing by stating that businessmen expressed satisfaction with the immediate decisions taken regarding several policy proposals presented during the meeting. He also expressed hope that this government initiative would play a significant role in facilitating trade and commerce, increasing investment, and creating new employment.