Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated Bangladesh's first World Trade Centre (WTC) in the southeastern port city of Chittagong, making the country part of a global network spread across nearly 100 nations.
After inaugurating the building, Hasina expressed hope that the centre will act as a catalyst for local and foreign organisations to network and explore new joint ventures and collaborations in their new initiatives.
The 21-storey building, constructed by Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), has three basements and a parking capacity for 400 vehicles, The DailyStar reported.
Spread over more than six acres the 300-foot-high building has been constructed at a cost of Tk 200 crore, it said.
The centre has joined the World Trade Centres Association in New York, which makes it part of a global network of members spread across nearly 100 countries.
According to the CCCI leaders, the WTC will have bank branches, exhibition halls, shopping mall, food court, conference rooms, health clubs, banquet halls, billiard rooms, snooker rooms, tennis courts and swimming pools in the building.
From the 10th to 20th floors remained booked for a five-star hotel with 240 rooms, and there will be a helipad on the rooftop.
The construction on the WTC started in 2006. It will house, two swimming pools, an international-standard convention centre and one modern IT centre.
