Foreign diplomats representing US, Russia and India also pinpointed on different problems crippling the port city. The roundtable put forward a 24-point recommendation.

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) organised the roundtable styled 'Infrastructure Development of Chittagong to Attract Foreign Investment' at its auditorium on Thursday.

Speaking at the discussion, David Renz, chief economic and commercial officer of the US Embassy in Dhaka, said Chittagong can be turned into an attractive place not only for local entrepreneurs but also for foreign investors, stressing the need for combined efforts from the public and private sectors in this regard.

Renz referred to the flourishing enterprises here, noting Bangladesh could make rapid economic progress if her local resources and power are utilised in a bigger way.

Oleg N Avdeev, consul general of Russian Embassy, and Ashoke Das, assistant high commissioner of India, also spoke at the roundtable.

Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, CCCI president, elaborated different points of the recommendations that include constructions of Dhaka-Chittagong dedicated express highway and bridges on Karnaphuli river, improving efficiency of Chittagong Port, and setting up new power plants and new industrial areas.

SM Nurul Haq, CCCI senior vice president, demanded immediate establishment of a garment village and urged the Russian consul general to encourage Russian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh's energy sector.

CCCI directors Ershad Ullah, Syed Ahsanul Haq and SM Nuruddin, and Chittagong Women Entrepreneurs Association Presi-dent Monowara Hakim Ali also spoke at the roundtable.