The government will take steps to reopen the long-closed Moghalhat land port in Lalmonirhat once the necessary agreement and understanding are reached with India, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Rajib Ahsan has said.

He made the remarks during a meeting with local residents on Sunday (October 4) after inspecting the Moghalhat land port area. The meeting was organised by the district administration at Moghalhat Zero Point.

The state minister said the government supports the demand to reopen the port. Bangladesh has the capacity to arrange the necessary infrastructure and manpower to operate the port on its side. The chairman of the Bangladesh Land Port Authority has already visited the area and prepared a report, he said.

However, as Moghalhat is an international port, preparations on Bangladesh’s side alone will not be sufficient, Ahsan said. India must also reach the necessary understanding regarding the operation of the land port. Once progress is made on that front, the process of reopening the port can move forward, he added.

The state minister said the government would consider constructing a required bridge over the river, improving road connectivity, setting up a customs station and developing other necessary infrastructure for the port.

Reopening Moghalhat could create new opportunities for trade and commerce as well as import and export activities in Lalmonirhat and other parts of northern Bangladesh, he said.

Earlier, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu also visited the Moghalhat land port area. Speaking to journalists afterwards, he said initiatives would be taken to reopen the port through discussions with India.

Dulu said reopening Moghalhat has long been a demand of people in the region. A feasibility study will be conducted to determine how the port can be reopened as quickly as possible. However, as it is an international port, the necessary agreements and understandings with India must be reached first, he said.

The meeting also discussed the feasibility of reopening the port, infrastructure development, connectivity and its potential impact on the local and regional economy.

The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Mohammad Manjarul Mannan. Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Muha. Rashedul Haque Pradhan, District Council Administrator AKM Mominul Haque and relevant officials were also present.