Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain, has said that nearly 2,000 young people sacrificed their lives during the July Uprising.

“We all recognise their sacrifice. The sacrifices made by our youth must not be in vain. Let us unite and move the country forward together,” he said.

Adviser Sakhawat addressed the 56th anniversary and reunion celebration of Khulna Government Sundarban Adarsha College on Friday morning, where he praised the college for its significant contributions to the region.

He acknowledged that while the college has groomed many distinguished individuals and played a crucial role in the development of Khulna, its infrastructure has not seen the level of improvement it deserves.

“As an old institution, the college needs expansion,” the adviser said, assuring all that he would raise the demands for its development with the education adviser.

The adviser also highlighted the importance of Mongla Port, which was once served by an office in Khulna city.

He called for the reinstatement of this office to better serve the needs of importers and shipping agents.

"Mongla Port is the port of Khulna, and it is our collective responsibility to sustain and enhance its effectiveness," he said.

He said that the full development of Mongla Port hinges on the construction of a container terminal.

He said that efforts are underway in this regard and urged that steps be taken to reduce tariffs to encourage importers to use the port more frequently.