Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed that all ports across Bangladesh operate 24 hours a day to accelerate the country’s import and export activities.

The directive was issued during a high-level meeting with the country’s leading business leaders and industrialists at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday (August 1).

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the proposal for round-the-clock commercial operations at Chattogram Port and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was raised by representatives of the private sector.

According to Mahdi Amin, the Prime Minister immediately instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that all government agencies work together so every port in Bangladesh can provide 24-hour services in the coming days.

He said the move is expected to significantly speed up import and export operations and improve the country’s overall trade logistics.

Focus on Investment Climate

Mahdi Amin said the lengthy meeting focused on the challenges facing the private sector, existing business bottlenecks, and ways to improve Bangladesh’s overall investment environment.

Discussions also covered the country’s Economic Zones, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). Participants explored ways to attract greater investment and simplify existing administrative and regulatory procedures.

Relevant ministers, state ministers, advisers, and heads of government agencies also shared their views during the meeting.

Government Pledges Strong Policy Support

Highlighting the government’s commitment to private sector development, Mahdi Amin said the administration aims to establish a governance framework under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership that provides strong policy support for businesses.

He noted that the government has already introduced a pro-business and pro-investment budget, and its policies will be implemented with the goal of creating greater employment and self-employment opportunities, particularly for the country’s large youth population and women.

Quoting one of the Prime Minister’s slogans, Mahdi Amin said, “Let’s work, let’s build the nation—Bangladesh comes first.”

He added that Saturday’s discussions were guided by this principle, with Bangladesh’s national interests placed at the forefront. Representatives of the private sector, he said, welcomed the government’s efforts to implement people-friendly policies, a people-oriented budget, and a business-friendly investment environment.