Ahamedul Karim Chowdhury

Persistent tensions in the Middle East, the resultant disruptions in key shipping routes, and the volatility in fuel access and prices are once again reminding the world of a hard truth: that energy security is no longer just about supply but also about having durable systems and structures in place.

During my 28 years of professional experience at Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), I have never seen a dedicated environmental protection department, a sustainability cell, or even a designated environmental professional.

It is a time to reflect on a critical yet often overlooked part of Bangladesh’s maritime system—the seabed and riverbeds that underpin our trade.

The massive joint-forces operation launched this week in Jungle Salimpur, Chattogram, did more than expose a criminal stronghold

Bangladesh’s export success has never been just about competitive labour or entrepreneurial energy.

If the government seeks a time-bound fast-track reform agenda, logistics offers one of the highest-impact starting points.

For more than three decades, one critical weakness has quietly shaped the development of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA): the absence of a comprehensive and transparent land-use plan.

Bangladesh’s export economy now moves faster than its railways can carry it. Factories, ports and private logistics firms have modernised to meet global demand.

Every few years, Bangladesh Railway’s (BR) container services collapse under the same explanation: a shortage of locomotives.

Bangladesh's logistics system is under strain from pressures it was never designed to absorb.

Recently,  Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has reported its highest net profit in 54 years, an achievement that has understandably generated optimism among policymakers and maritime stakeholders.

The strongest national interest lies elsewhere: expanding employment and training opportunities for Bangladeshi cadets and officers.

Dhaka's fruit economy moves through the narrow arteries of Badamtoli, where, before dawn each day, trucks laden with imported Apples from China, Oranges from Egypt, Grapes from South Africa, and dozens of other fruits push through streets never designed for heavy cargo vehicles.

Bangladesh's port congestion has long shaped the popular perception that our maritime gateways are straining under unmanageable pressure.

Bangladesh lacks the regulatory discipline needed for involving foreign operators in port management.

The signing of the concession agreement brings cautious optimism.

The Matarbari Deep-Sea Port promises to be a game-changer for the country's shipping and logistics landscape.

Bangladesh is producing far more deck and engine cadets than the global shipping market can absorb, resulting in a national crisis.

In Bangladesh, inefficiency leads to containers lingering for weeks in the Chittagong Port terminal.

In a vast logistics system, hierarchy without coordination may struggle to deliver results.