As part of the government’s development strategy, the process of implementation of the country’s first deep-sea port at Matarbari of Cox’s Bazar has started aimed to modernize and expand its existing infrastructure facilities for economic development.
The ‘dream’ project at a cost of around Tk 18,000 crore is expected to be completed by 2026 in order to further strengthen the country’s journey towards the ocean as well as boost trade and commerce.
According to official sources, an agreement in this regard between the government and a Japanese consulting firm is expected to be inked in this month. After the agreement, the contractor will be appointed while the process of land acquisition for the port is also in progress.
Project Director (PD) of the Cox’s Bazar Matarbari Deep-Sea Port Development Project, Zafar Alam, also a member of Chattogram Port Authority (Admin & Planning), said, “Nippon Koi, a Japanese company, has been approved as a consulting firm. The agreement with this organisation will be signed within this month. After that Nippon will design the detail plan of the port. Then the work will start by hiring a contractor.”
“The tenure of the project is till December 2026. But our target is to get ship arrival at the port before December 2026”, he said.
Earlier on March 9 this year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Matarbari Deep-Sea Port in Cox’s Bazar. The meeting was presided over by ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The government took the decision with an aim to fulfill the demand of international trade as well as facilitating speedy port services with the neighbouring countries.
The Chattogram Port Authority and the Roads and Highways Division will implement the Matarbari Port Development Project involving Tk 177.77 billion.
Earlier Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “Out of total project cost, Tk 26.71 billion will come from the Government of Bangladesh portion, Tk 22.13 billion from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) while the rest of Taka 128.93 billion from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The minister said the government aims to enhance the cargo handling capacity of Bangladesh through constructing this Matarbari Port including link road.
Mannan said the Matarbari sea port would be the country’s 4th port after Chattogram, Mongla and Payra and it would be built as a huge port following the growing pressure of economic activities.
“This is another ‘dream’ project for the country and it will further strengthen our journey towards the ocean as well as boost our trade and commerce,” he said.
Another official at the Planning Commission said that the Matarbari Port would fulfill the government’s aspirations for a deep sea port side by side creating opportunities for anchoring container-laden vessels and opening goods-laden vessels and oil tankers at the port jetty.
Besides, this port will minimise the pressure on the Chattogram Port alongside meeting the growing demand of the country’s import and export activities.
Goods transportation to and from the potential industrial estates at Matarbari and Moheshkhali will also be facilitated after establishment of this port.
The Matarbari Port will have two separate terminals having 300 metres and 460 metres length where ships with 8,000 TEUs containers could anchor due to its 16-metre draft at the port channel.
The main project operations include construction of a multipurpose terminal and a container terminal, procurement of necessary cargo handling equipment and construction of 26.7 kilometres link road.