The decision was taken on Saturday (August 1) at a high-level meeting held with the country's top businessmen and industrialists at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Prime Minister's adviser and spokesperson of the office, Mahdi Amin, said private sector representatives proposed launching 24-hour import-export operations at Chattogram port and Dhaka airport. In response, the Prime Minister immediately instructed the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to ensure round-the-clock services at all ports in the country.

He said all relevant government departments will ensure the launch of 24-hour operations at every port in the country in phases through coordination. As a result, import-export processes will become faster, more efficient and competitive.

Mahdi Amin said the lengthy meeting discussed in detail various issues of the industry and commerce sector, the investment environment, policy reforms and challenges of the private sector.

He said there was also an exchange of views on how to attract more domestic and foreign investment in economic zones under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), and how to remove existing complexities. Ministers, state ministers, advisers and heads of various agencies present at the meeting expressed their opinions on the matter.

Reiterating the government's commitment to the development of the private sector, the Prime Minister's adviser said the government is working to build a business-friendly and investment-friendly policy framework that will be supportive for entrepreneurs and create new employment.

He further said the government is emphasising implementing pro-business and pro-investment policies to increase employment and self-employment opportunities for young people and women.

Quoting the Prime Minister, Mahdi Amin said, 'Let us work, build the country, Bangladesh first'—keeping this principle in mind, the government is working jointly with the private sector to strengthen the country's economy.

He informed that businessmen expressed satisfaction at the Prime Minister's immediate decisions on various policy proposals raised at the meeting. According to them, if these initiatives are implemented, doing business will become easier, investment will increase and new employment opportunities will be created in the country.