Bangladesh Railway Faces Locomotive Crisis

State Minister for Civil Aviation highlighted the remarkable growth prospects of Bangladesh's aviation sector in the next 15 years. Speaking as the chief guest at a special event organized by US-Bangla Airlines, he emphasized the crucial role of timely infrastructure development, technical expertise, and policy formulation in driving the industry's rapid expansion. Over the past decade, Bangladesh's aviation market has nearly doubled, and to sustain this impressive growth trajectory, the minister emphasized the need for a well-trained and skilled workforce at all levels of the aviation industry.

The issuance of Bangladeshi e-passports is set to commence in Sydney, Australia's commercial capital. The official opening of the e-passport program will take place at the Bangladesh Consulate General in Sydney, with the Director General of the Directorate of Immigration and Passports, leading the team and serving as the chief guest. The e-passport manufacturing equipment will be installed in Sydney, followed by the inauguration of the program at the Bangladeshi High Commission in Canberra.

The government of Bangladesh has made its final decision to appoint the Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), a Saudi Arabian company, as the operator of the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) under the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA). The Private Public Partnership (PPP) authority is currently handling the appointment process, and the Ministry of Shipping is expected to make the official appointment soon. The CPA has engaged the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the Transaction Advisor (TA) to establish the terms and conditions for the operator's appointment. Once the IFC submits its report, the final decision will be made.

Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport, announced plans for the construction of a state-of-the-art seaport in Chandpur. The project, estimated at a cost of 100 crore rupees, aims to enhance the region's transportation infrastructure. The chairman highlighted the efficiency and safety of the Dhaka-Chandpur sea route, emphasizing its popularity among passengers. With the availability of modern and comfortable vessels, the number of travelers on this route has been increasing. The government's interest in developing Chandpur as an important port led to the initiation of this project with support from the World Bank.

Chittagong seaport is grappling with a backlog of container ships following a 60-hour operation shutdown caused by Cyclone Mocha in mid-May. The port experiences a daily waiting list of 10 to 15 container vessels at its outer anchorage, resulting in berthing delays. Gearless vessels, reliant on the port's gantry cranes for loading and unloading, endure extended waiting periods of up to five days. The Chittagong Port Authority's berthing schedule reveals that 15 container vessels were awaiting berths, with only four scheduled for 1 June.

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), a leading state-owned oceangoing vessel management authority, has witnessed a remarkable 23% year-on-year increase in profit, reaching Tk62 crore in the first quarter of 2023. This growth can be attributed to a significant rise in income from lighterage ships. The corporation's unaudited financial statements reveal a 14% boost in net revenue, amounting to Tk123 crore compared to the same period last year. The lighterage ship segment played a crucial role, contributing Tk30.44 crore—an impressive increase from Tk14 crore. However, revenue from charter ships declined by 8% to Tk65 crore due to damage suffered by one ship during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.