Trade flows through Ctg, but power stays in Dhaka

Business leaders in Chattogram have voiced frustration over what they described as the port city’s continued marginalisation in national decision-making, arguing that excessive centralisation in Dhaka has prevented it from emerging as Bangladesh’s commercial capital despite its dominant role in trade.

Chattogram handles the bulk of the country’s imports and exports and hosts major industrial zones, yet key policy decisions and financial authority remain concentrated in Dhaka, participants said at a roundtable, organised by the Prothom Alo, on the city’s prospects as a commercial capital yesterday.

This imbalance, they argued, has weakened the city’s competitiveness and constrained its long-term economic potential.

The Chattogram port handles over 90 percent of Bangladesh’s external trade. The south-eastern district also accommodates multiple industrial zones, including the major export processing zones such as the Chattogram EPZ and Karnaphuli EPZ, which are central to manufacturing and export industries. It also includes one of the country’s largest wholesale commodity markets in Khatunganj.

Speaking at the event, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, former commerce minister and BNP Standing Committee member, said developing Chattogram as a commercial capital would require strong political will alongside meaningful administrative decentralisation.

While the city has historically been trade-oriented, he said, excessive centralisation has prevented it from functioning as a true economic hub. “To build a commercial capital, decision-making authority must also be transferred there.”

Mohammad Mostafa Haider, director of TK Group, said the overconcentration of population and economic activity in Dhaka has become a major obstacle to national development.

He stressed the need to refocus on Chattogram, particularly by strengthening regional and international connectivity.

Haider also underscored the importance of coastal-based industrialisation, saying it could help preserve agricultural land, lower infrastructure costs and reduce environmental risks.

Business leaders at the discussion placed several demands aimed at easing pressure on the Chattogram port and improving trade efficiency.

They called for greater use of the Bay of Bengal’s outer anchorage and inland river ports to reduce congestion at the main port, as well as the expansion and modernisation of chemical testing laboratories to speed up clearance and ensure compliance with international standards.

They also urged simplified bank loan procedures and easier access to finance, particularly for traders and industrial entrepreneurs. The establishment of a dedicated zone with comprehensive facilities for small and medium entrepreneurs was proposed as a way to encourage inclusive growth and support local enterprises.

Almas Shimul, additional managing director of GPH Ispat Limited, said establishing Chattogram as a commercial capital would require relocating key government offices, including the Ministry of Commerce, to the city.

He also called for strengthening river, sea and air connectivity and reducing overdependence on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.

Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement, said waterway transport is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than road transport.

Without major improvements in logistics and connectivity, he said, Chattogram cannot function effectively as a commercial capital.

Architect Jerina Hossain, general secretary of the Planned Chattogram Forum, criticised the “unplanned infrastructure development” in the city.

She said flyovers and expressways have largely prioritised airport access while undermining existing public transport systems.

Hossain argued that modernising public transport is essential for Chattogram’s development, but unplanned flyovers and expressways have reduced footpath space, making effective public transport unworkable without adequate pedestrian infrastructure.

She also emphasised the need for quality housing, public transport, green spaces and cultural facilities for entrepreneurs, workers and professionals, noting that the absence of public hearings before approving mega projects has made the city’s development process unsustainable.

Professor Muhammad Rashidul Hasan, dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, said Bangladesh has 592 urban centres, yet 60 percent of the urban population lives in just four cities – around 38 to 40 percent in Dhaka and 12 percent in Chattogram.

He noted wide discrepancies in Chattogram’s population estimates, ranging from 34 lakh to 80 lakh. Highlighting its strategic location, port facilities and connectivity, he said expanding the Dhaka–Chattogram highway could further strengthen the city’s role as a commercial hub.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman, and representatives from various sectors also attended the roundtable.