BENAPOLE: Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said India, Nepal and Bhutan can use Mongla and Chittagong seaports as transit in the future, as regional connectivity is being tossed as a forward-looking concept of the day.

“Economic advances of the country are possible letting neighboring countries use the seaports,” she said to journalists after visiting infrastructure of Mongla seaport, one of the two seaports of the country, being eyed as useful gateways by regional countries, particularly the landlocked ones.

She also said “The government is carrying out discussions with India and Myanmar to ensure our rights on the maritime territory in the Bay.”

Apart from keeping the region safe and peaceful, the country would be economically benefited by extending communications encompassing the neighboring countries, she added.

The foreign minister said the government is working for the infrastructure development of the Mongla port considering these aspects.

Earlier, the minister visited the under-construction Khan Jahan Ali Airport area and Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on way to Mongla seaport from Khulna on her trip to the southwest.

The government is to invest around US$700 million in upgrading infrastructures and facilities at the Chittagong and Mongla seaports. The two ports are being upgraded in anticipation of future rise in import and export cargoes through the ports, from sub-regional countries such as India, Bhutan and Nepal.

Chittagong Port is the principal seaport of Bangladesh, handling about 92% of import-export trade of the country.

As far as improvement and development of Mongla port is concerned, a total of six projects have been undertaken to improve its efficiency, sources said.

BDST 1937 HRS AUGUST 13, 2010