The much-anticipated first deep seaport of the country at Matarbari comes into operation by 2024. Top government officials made the disclosure while saying that construction of the main infrastructure of Matarbari deep seaport at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar is going to start very soon.
Planning Commission officials said that they had received a DPP (development project proposal) recently from the shipping ministry in this regard. Meeting of the project evaluation committee (PEC) on the proposal would be held soon to place it before the ECNEC.
When contacted, Jafar Alam, Member (Administration and Planning) of the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and also the Project Director, told Bangladesh Post on Tuesday, “We hope the proposal gets approval when placed before the ECNEC on September 2. And then, other work will be started gradually. It is expected that project work will start in full swing within 2-3 months.” “If everything goes according to plan, we hope that Chattogram Port Authority would get the responsibility to operate the Matarbari Deep Seaport within 2024,” he continued.
Joint chief of the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission, Md Matiur Rahman, told the media: “We are scrutinising the DPP at present. The PEC meeting would be called soon to clear the way to place the proposal before ECNEC meeting next week.”
Implementation of Bangladesh’s long-term dream is becoming true through the inauguration of construction of the two main jetties of Matarbari deep seaport. Japan International Cooperation Agency is providing a Tk 13,253 crore loan for the construction of the Tk 18,580 crore deep seaport at Dhalghat area under Maheshkhali Island in Cox’s Bazar. Tk 2,588 crore would be collected from other development partners while the government would provide the rest Tk 2,740 crore.
According to the DPP, styled ‘Matarbari Port Development Project, implantation of the project would enhance the cargo-handling of Bangladesh to meet the present global commercial demand as well as ensure port service for neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) is expected to appoint a foreign firm as a consultant for the proposed deep seaport by this month.
A CPA official said, after evaluation of financial and technical offers, two foreign firms – one Japanese and another Indian – had been primarily selected. One of the firms will be appointed for the much awaited mega project of the Chattogram Port. “The appointed firm will prepare the detailed design of the port.' The appointed firm will also monitor the construction work of the proposed deep sea port at Matarbari,” he added.
The feasibility study, fact finding and appraisal mission have already been completed. Besides, the loan agreement for the project has been signed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In the proposed deep seaport, mother vessels of nearly 16- metre draft will be able to berth. Currently at the Chattogram Port jetties, vessels with only 9-metre draft can berth. Container vessels with only 2000 TEUs of containers can berth at CPA jetties. In the proposed deep sea port, vessels carrying 8000 TEUs of containers will berth. It will initially be an energy-power deep seaport and be used for power, energy and coal. It will then be extended into a multipurpose deep seaport. The project includes a 14.7km long, 250m wide and 18.5m deep-sea channel. The project area is some 40 nautical miles from the port at Chattogram.
