The cost of doing business may reduce by around 5 per cent if the capacity of the Chattogram port is increased, said Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Foreign entrepreneurs will also feel encouraged if the cost of doing business can be reduced, he said.

The pressure on the Chattogram Port will increase a lot if production starts in full swing in Bangabandhu Industrial City and other economic zones of the country, Jashim Uddin said.

He made the call in the first meeting of the FBCCI Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping today.

At present, the speed of cargo vehicles on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway is 40 kilometres per hour, he said.

If this speed is doubled, the competitiveness of the export sector will increase by 6 per cent, he added.

Chemicals imported through the port have to be tested separately before unloading and it takes 10 to 12 days for the importers to get the tests done, he said.

"Immediate steps should be taken to solve these problems related to the port."

He also urged the standing committee to find short-, medium- and long-term solutions by identifying the problems of the port.

Md Pervez Shazzad Aktar, chairman of the standing committee, called for not increasing the tariff in order to create a business-friendly environment.

FBCCI Vice Presidents Md Amin Helaly, Md Habib Ullah Dawn also spoke.