Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh
Maritime trade in Bangladesh is growing significantly, as observed by UNCTAD, which reported 3.20 mTEUs throughput in 2022. Additionally, the principal seaport, Chattogram Port, reported a port throughput of 3.27 mTEUs in 2024, the historical record for any port in Bangladesh. More than 50% of impor...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Razon Chandra Saha Khairir Bin Khalil |
| author_facet | Razon Chandra Saha Khairir Bin Khalil |
| author_sort | Razon Chandra Saha |
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| description | Maritime trade in Bangladesh is growing significantly, as observed by UNCTAD, which reported 3.20 mTEUs throughput in 2022. Additionally, the principal seaport, Chattogram Port, reported a port throughput of 3.27 mTEUs in 2024, the historical record for any port in Bangladesh. More than 50% of imports and exports, including empty containers, were handled in 2024 through 19 nos close dry ports in Chattogram City by applying small-scale intermodal systems, where the performance of pure intermodal from/to mid-range dry ports (3 Nos) to Chattogram Port is 2.53%. By 2030, the government wants all import and export operations to be conducted through dry ports. Furthermore, the current volume of international goods freight cannot be handled by the dry ports that are currently in place. This research applied mixed methods to explore the opportunities to set more dry ports and the application of intermodal systems for increasing the seaport’s efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method was used to know the dry port location, investment, and policy in creating the opportunity to set up more dry ports in Bangladesh. In the findings, 82.50% of participants agreed that existing facilities are not enough and need to establish more dry ports to handle current and future volumes of containers. Moreover, the responses reveal a division of opinion on establishing a dry port outside of Chattogram, with a notable inclination towards opposition. According to 62% of respondents, dry ports outside Chattogram are necessary. To enhance intermodal connectivity and facilitate easier cargo transfers between ports and hinterland regions, integrated infrastructure development would be in line with national economic objectives. The research aims to investigate the possibilities for establishing additional dry ports across the country to boost seaport productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness by utilizing intermodal freight transportation systems to cut costs and time while also considering environmental factors like CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. |
| format | Article |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Future Transportation |
| spelling | doaj-art-2cdfa88897174d58b1907fb5f603162f2025-08-20T02:21:06ZengMDPI AGFuture Transportation2673-75902025-06-01526910.3390/futuretransp5020069Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in BangladeshRazon Chandra Saha0Khairir Bin Khalil1Institute of Postgraduate Studies, Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Block B, Encorp Strand Garden Office, No. 12 Jalan PJU 5/1 Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya 47810, Selangor, MalaysiaSchool of Transportation and Logistics, Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Block B, Encorp Strand Garden Office, No. 12 Jalan PJU 5/1 Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya 47810, Selangor, MalaysiaMaritime trade in Bangladesh is growing significantly, as observed by UNCTAD, which reported 3.20 mTEUs throughput in 2022. Additionally, the principal seaport, Chattogram Port, reported a port throughput of 3.27 mTEUs in 2024, the historical record for any port in Bangladesh. More than 50% of imports and exports, including empty containers, were handled in 2024 through 19 nos close dry ports in Chattogram City by applying small-scale intermodal systems, where the performance of pure intermodal from/to mid-range dry ports (3 Nos) to Chattogram Port is 2.53%. By 2030, the government wants all import and export operations to be conducted through dry ports. Furthermore, the current volume of international goods freight cannot be handled by the dry ports that are currently in place. This research applied mixed methods to explore the opportunities to set more dry ports and the application of intermodal systems for increasing the seaport’s efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method was used to know the dry port location, investment, and policy in creating the opportunity to set up more dry ports in Bangladesh. In the findings, 82.50% of participants agreed that existing facilities are not enough and need to establish more dry ports to handle current and future volumes of containers. Moreover, the responses reveal a division of opinion on establishing a dry port outside of Chattogram, with a notable inclination towards opposition. According to 62% of respondents, dry ports outside Chattogram are necessary. To enhance intermodal connectivity and facilitate easier cargo transfers between ports and hinterland regions, integrated infrastructure development would be in line with national economic objectives. The research aims to investigate the possibilities for establishing additional dry ports across the country to boost seaport productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness by utilizing intermodal freight transportation systems to cut costs and time while also considering environmental factors like CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/5/2/69maritime tradeChattogram Portclose dry portsintermodal systemsfocus group discussionCO<sub>2</sub> emission |
| spellingShingle | Razon Chandra Saha Khairir Bin Khalil Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh Future Transportation maritime trade Chattogram Port close dry ports intermodal systems focus group discussion CO<sub>2</sub> emission |
| title | Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh |
| title_full | Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh |
| title_short | Policy Formulations to Establish More Dry Port Infrastructures to Increase Seaport Efficiency, Productivity, and Competitiveness in Bangladesh |
| title_sort | policy formulations to establish more dry port infrastructures to increase seaport efficiency productivity and competitiveness in bangladesh |
| topic | maritime trade Chattogram Port close dry ports intermodal systems focus group discussion CO<sub>2</sub> emission |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7590/5/2/69 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT razonchandrasaha policyformulationstoestablishmoredryportinfrastructurestoincreaseseaportefficiencyproductivityandcompetitivenessinbangladesh AT khairirbinkhalil policyformulationstoestablishmoredryportinfrastructurestoincreaseseaportefficiencyproductivityandcompetitivenessinbangladesh |