Four land ports to close

In a decisive sweep, Bangladesh is set to shutter three unprofitable land ports and halt operations at a fourth, following a hard look at their economic viability.

The decision comes from a Ministry of Shipping committee tasked with sizing up eight underperforming ports managed by the Bangladesh Land Ports Authority. Their report, released Sunday, March 2, lays bare a reality check: some ports just aren’t worth the concrete they’re built on.

The chop list

Chilahati in Nilphamari’s Domar, Daulatganj in Chuadanga, and Thegamukh in Rangamati are slated for permanent closure. “No economic juice left to squeeze,” the committee concluded, citing stagnant trade and zero potential for growth. Why pour funds into infrastructure when there’s no payoff? Meanwhile, Balla Land Port in Habiganj gets a partial reprieve—its Kedarkot site will stop operations, crippled by India’s lack of roads and border facilities. The committee also nudged Gobarakura-Karaitoli in Mymensingh to consolidate into one leaner location, ditching its wasteful dual setup.

Behind the decision

This isn’t a whim—it’s a reckoning. Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministries of Shipping and Labour, kicked off the probe after touring the country’s land ports post-appointment. What he saw—idle cranes, empty warehouses, and red ink—prompted a six-member verification team, formed November 6, to dig into eight ports built under the previous regime: Nakugaon (Sherpur), Gobarakura-Karaitoli (Mymensingh), Dhanua Kamalpur (Jamalpur), Balla (Habiganj), Biral (Dinajpur), Chilahati (Nilphamari), Daulatganj (Chuadanga), and Tegamukh (Rangamati).

After boots-on-the-ground inspections, the team weighed trade flows, infrastructure costs, and profit potential. The findings? A mixed bag. Nakugaon’s humming with enough activity to justify its keep—past income outpaces expenses, and a little push could make it thrive. Dhanua Kamalpur’s got the basics built and a history of bustling trade; with minimal staffing, it’s worth holding onto. Biral, a rare rail-linked port, could still chug along if India greenlights immigration and roads—its BOT operator can foot the bill, sparing public coffers.

Winners and losers  

The closures signal a shift: no more throwing good money after bad. Chilahati, Daulatganj, and Tegamukh are ghosts of ambition—built with fanfare, now gathering dust. Balla’s Kedarkot outpost, stranded by India’s neglect, epitomises cross-border frustration. “If they won’t build the roads, we won’t waste our time,” the report implies.

Yet, it’s not all doom—ports like Nakugaon and Dhanua Kamalpur prove strategic cuts can spotlight hidden gems. Biral’s rail potential hinges on diplomacy, a wildcard worth watching.