14.275 acres of land handed over to CPA

Of the land, 13.645 acres were acquired from the local and the rest 0.63 acres were government Khas land.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury MP attended the handing over ceremony as chief guest and lauded CPA for making efforts to develop Chittagong port with professional attitude keeping in mind the overall development of the port city.

He emphasised the importance of reducing operational cost and enhancing efficiency of Chittagong port through short-, medium- and long-term plans after holding discussions with all concerned with the port.

The development has to be for the greater interest of people, not for the interest of a few vested groups, said Khosru, also the former commerce minister.

CPA Chairman AMM Shahadat Hossain, Chief Engineer Dr Shafayat Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rashidul Hasan, Chittagong Bandar CBA President Shamsul Alam, General Secretary Nurullah Bahar, Port 22 TU Member Secretary Quazi Jahangir Hossain and Jatiya Sramik League President Shamsul Haq Shafi were also present at the function.

On January 20 this year, CPA handed over 16.8969 acres of land, including 3.1919 acre for mosque, graveyard, roads and drains, to 51 families affected by the acquisition of land for the terminal.

The port authorities also gave over Tk 39 crore 21 lakh in compensation for damages of infrastructure and movable properties and over Tk 7 crore 30 lakh as dislodgement benefit, sources said.

It developed the allocated land at a cost of Tk 3.5 crore while it will bear other expenses for further infrastructure development and utility services.

The CPA started implementing the Tk 737 crore project, involving Tk 435 crore for infrastructure development, on February 14, 2004. About five months are left for completion of the 30-month project.