The government has taken an initiative to maintain the emergency dredging of Barnabad channel of Payra Port aiming to carry out the port activities smoothly.
As part of the move, the Payra Port Authority (PPA) and Belgian company Jan De Nul (DJN) signed an agreement at a city hotel on Thursday.
Chairman of PPA Commodore Humayun Kallol and project director of Jan De Nul (DJN) Jan Moens signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.
State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, shipping secretary Mohammad Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury and member (harbour and marine) of PPA Commodore Mamunur Rashid were present at the signing ceremony.
The dredging works will help remove about 9.75 million cubic metre silts from 75-kilometre length and 100-125 metre width Barnabad channel (6.3 metre deep).
Dredging will be completed within 18 months involving over Tk 4.37 billion.
It (dredging work) will also facilitate smooth transportation of coal, cement, clinkers, food-grains, fertilizer, and other essential commodities to the port.
The state minister said Payra Port will help contribute to the growth of the country's economy significantly by 2035.
After inaugurating Padma Bridge, he said, the importance of Payra Port will be enhanced manifold.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com