Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, has underscored Bangladesh’s rapid strides in port modernization, noting that Chittagong alone handles over 96 percent of the country’s trade and 98 percent of container traffic.
To reduce over dependence, a JICA supported national port policy is expected by year-end, alongside digital upgrades such as e-gates, real-time cargo tracking, and a dedicated application.
Highlighting ongoing partnerships with leading global operators—including TSC, B2W, Maersk, and MSC—he emphasized that Bangladesh must invest in capacity building, policy consistency, and global collaboration.
With more than half the population under 27 and actively seeking employment, he said green port development should not only meet carbon goals but also position Bangladesh to be trade-ready by 2030.
He made these remarks at a breakfast meeting on “Port & Logistics Management” hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) on September 22, 2025, at The Westin Dhaka. Rear Admiral Moniruzzaman and Mr. Philip Grove, Director of Business Development at Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LLC, were guest speakers at the event, which was supported by UPS Bangladesh.
AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed highlighted the logistics sector’s significance, employing nearly 7 million people and contributing about 20 percent to GDP.
Despite its scale, the sector remains underdeveloped, ranking low in global indices due to inefficiencies in customs clearance and infrastructure. He noted that the logistics policy drafted in 2024 is yet to be implemented and called for stronger coordination, strategy, and policy alignment to unlock competitiveness.
Philip Grove,Director of Business Development at Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LLC, reflecting on his 16-year engagement with Bangladesh, thanked AmCham, the U.S. Embassy, and partners for hosting the event.
He stressed the growing U.S.-Bangladesh trade partnership and the need for greater visibility in logistics—covering cargo tracking, logistics costs, and real-time data. He underlined the potential of cloud-based and AI-driven technologies in boosting efficiency and expressed interest in linking Bangladeshi stakeholders with U.S. solution providers.
The dialogue, moderated by AmCham Executive Director Chowdhury Kaiser Mohammad Riyadh, focused on enhancing U.S. export potential through improved port and logistics management, expanding investment opportunities, strengthening the business climate for U.S. investors, and addressing sectoral challenges.
Prominent stakeholders—including Captain Sohail Hasan (Western Marine Shipyard), Engr. Harun-Ur-Rashid (MSC Bangladesh), Yasser Rizvi (Summit Alliance Port Ltd./BICDA), Kabir Ahmed (Conveyor Logistics Ltd./BFFA), Syed Mohammad Arif (Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association), Mohiuddin Abdul Kadir (CILT Bangladesh), and Syed Mohammad Tarique (RSGT Bangladesh)—also shared insights to help chart a sustainable course for Bangladesh’s ports and logistics sector.