Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury has sought UK’s cooperation in solving the four problems of the port city and attracting foreign investment.
In a courtesy call of UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke with him on Thursday (November 16), the CCC Mayor told the British High Commissioner that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invested heavily in the infrastructure sector to increase the logistics capacity to utilize the trade potential of Chattogram.
Already, a tunnel has been launched under Karnaphuli River in the port city which is similar to the one under the Thames River in London. Besides, the entire city’s communication system is being improved by investing Tk. 2500 crore, said the CCC Mayor.
He also said that a project worth Tk. 10,000 crore is underway to alleviate waterlogging in the port city. As a result of this massive investment, Chattogram has become an important center of foreign investment. The UK will be very profitable if it invests in Chattogram to utilize this golden opportunity, he added.
Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said, “Currently climate is changing. We are giving priority to four sectors-- water supply, sewage disposal, waste management and infrastructure. The UK can stand by us by investing in the development of these four sectors. We want to build a beautiful Chattogram city by utilizing the technical knowledge and experience along with the UK’s financial support.”
UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said that the United Kingdom is one of the main donors of the project undertaken by UNDP to help Chattogram with the problems of urbanization. UK company ‘Unilever’ is one of the top tax paying companies in Bangladesh. One factory of Unilever in Chattogram is providing direct employment to 900 people and indirect livelihood of about 20 thousand people.
She also said, “We are looking at what other sectors UK businesses in Bangladesh can benefit from investment. Many other UK companies want to set up factories in Bangladesh, especially in Chattogram. In this regard, political stability will increase the confidence of British businessmen to invest in Bangladesh.”
The meeting was attended, among others, by CCC’s CEO Sheikh Muhammad Towhidul Islam, British High Commission’s Second Secretary (Political) Bryony Corr and Trade and Investment Director Dan Pasha.
