Speaking as the chief guest at a high-level seminar held at a Dhaka hotel on Sunday (October 11, 2026), Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced that the strategic framework will prioritize overall national economic development above narrow departmental interests. The policy is being drafted in technical collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) alongside inputs from global port operators including DP World, Denmark's AP Møller - Maersk, and Singapore's PSA. Minister Alam stressed that the strategy will harmonize operational jurisdictions among port authorities, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Customs, and the Ministry of Commerce without undermining existing statutory mandates. State Minister for Shipping Md. Rajib Ahsan, Shipping Secretary Zakaria, JICA Bangladesh Country Director Ms. Takahashi, and Chittagong Port Authority leadership attended the seminar, reaffirming the government's commitment to modernizing port logistics into a business-friendly trade environment.