The government is set to implement the National Port Strategy from January next year to ensure long-term and sustainable development of the country’s land, river, and sea ports, said Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain, Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping.

He made the announcement on Tuesday while speaking at a stakeholders’ consultation meeting in the capital, organised by the Ministry of Shipping with support from the Government of Japan and JICA, aimed at finalising the Bangladesh National Port Strategy 2025.

The draft of the National Port Strategy is now at its final stage. We expect to complete the finalisation process within this year and begin implementation from January,” said the adviser.

Sakhawat noted that ports have been playing a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economic growth through trade and export-import activities, contributing significantly to GDP.

However, he pointed out that in the 54 years since independence, the country never had a unified port management strategy, with each port operating and planning its development separately.

To ensure a modern and integrated port management system like in developed nations, the government has taken the initiative to formulate the National Port Strategy,” he said.

A high-level committee was formed to prepare the strategy, reviewing port policies of several advanced economies and incorporating insights from local and international experts, Sakhawat added.

He highlighted that major global ports are now operating through digital systems, which attract greater foreign investment.

We aim to do the same—bring more local and foreign investment into our maritime sector and ensure efficient, sustainable port management through this strategy,” he said.

The adviser said the strategy envisions a modern and unified port framework, introducing a Maritime Single Window to integrate all port-related services into one platform, enabling businesses to receive hassle-free services in minimum time.

He further said that the strategy places emphasis on synchronising the operations of sea, river, and land ports under a common framework, which would bring a transformative change in the country’s maritime sector.

The National Port Strategy will mark a major breakthrough for Bangladesh’s maritime industry,” Sakhawat a