Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan in 2014, following the announcement of the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative by the Japanese Prime Minister for the development of the south-eastern region of Bangladesh, a coal power project was taken up at Matarbari in Maheshkhali upazila in Cox's Bazar district. Later various projects including commercial port were taken up in Matarbari.
Panama flag commercial ship "Venus Triumph" berthed for the first time on December 29, 2020 at the first jetty built by the Matarbari Coal Power Project at Matarbari within the extended port area of Chattogram Port. To maintain this continuity, a second jetty was built which proved its functionality by berthing ships on July 15. This remote area Matarbari is currently known as "The Next Power and Port Hub" which will play an important role in facing the energy crisis of the people of Bangladesh in the future. MV HOSEI FORTUNE is going to touch the milestone of 100th ship handling by berthing at Matarbari Jetty on Wednesday
With the sincere efforts of Chattogram Port Authority and Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL), 99 seagoing vessel handling operations have already been successfully completed at Coal Power Plant Jetty which has enriched the national economy through revenue generation. A revenue of Tk.208,06,230.92 has already accrued to CPA's coffers by handling around 1,17,091 tonnes of cargo. The construction of the first phase of the country's first deep sea port at Matarbari in Cox's Bazar will be completed in 2025. The biggest ship in the history of Bangladesh will arrive at this jetty. At present the width of the channel has been increased from 250 m to 350 m for access to the jetty constructed by CPGCBL. It is through this channel or entrance that ships from the Bay of Bengal will enter the port jetty and the arrival of approximately 80,000 DWT Panamax Size coal-carrying ships at the Matarbari Coal Power Station is expected in the coming year. Besides, the work of SPM project established by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation in the said offshore area is nearing completion and commissioning will be completed this year. CPGCBL has been providing tug, pilotage and stevedoring services in Chattogram Port for handling and cargo handling of incoming foreign vessels carrying construction materials since the construction of the channel. Due to the skill of the port pilots, tug assistance as needed, there are now virtually no maritime accidents in the channel under discussion. Due to port supervision, there has been no theft, robbery or untoward incident of ships entering the channel so far and there has been no disruption of ISPS operations which is a great credit to the port as well as the entire country.
