CHATTOGRAM: The deep seaport being constructed by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in Matarbari of Cox's Bazar will turn into the most important export-import hub of the region in future, hopes Chairman of the CPA Rear Admiral M Shahajahan.
Through operating mother vessels for the ports of the neighbouring countries, it will acquire the fame of the most important feeder port in the region, he says.
Talking to The Financial Express, the CPA chief said, "Once its construction is completed, the deep seaport of CPA will be the regional business hub. We can handle mother vessels at the deep seaport's terminals in Matarbari. The largest mother vessels can berth at the seaport's terminals in future. As a result, it will be the most important regional hub of export and import for the neighbouring countries."
"Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) and other terminals of the CPA will be service ports in future. Besides, the capacity of Chittagong port will be increased several times with establishment of the seaport's terminals in future. Moreover, Bay Terminal and PCT will also increase the capacity of the CPA," he added.
"The draft of Matarbari deep seaport terminals is the highest among the neighbouring country's ports. So, the deep sea port of CPA will be the feeder port of the region," Mr Shahajahan said.
He expected that after completion of the dream project of the deep seaport at Matarbari in Cox's Bazar under the management of Chittagong sea port, export, import and maritime connectivity of Bangladesh will increase remarkably and the deep sea port will enhance the total capacity of Chittagong sea port for handling cargoes and containers several times.
"Building a deep sea port to enhance the capacity of Chittagong port was the demand of time. Our Prime Minister declared a role model for the blue economy and the deep seaport at Matarbari is being constructed as per the model. After completion of the construction of the deep seaport, a new economic belt will be developed from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, which will enrich our economy," he said.
The total scenario of Matarbari area is being amazingly changed as the mega-project like deep seaport is being implemented there.
Alongside the deep seaport, some other related projects including the Coal Base Power Station, LNG Terminal and development of highway are being implemented now.
After improvement of the coronavirus situation, work of the deep seaport is continuing without any break; as a result, the dream project is likely to be completed by 2025.
The seaport was originally to be built for Matarbari coal-fired power plant but the government later decided to turn it into a deep seaport.
Work of the project at a cost of Tk177.75 billion (Tk17,775 crore) began on November 16, 2020. The new deep seaport will be the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
The port is planned to reduce pressure on the Chittagong port and in the first phase, one 300-metre long multipurpose terminal and one 460- metre long container terminal are planned to be constructed by 2026.
The navigation channel will be 350 metres long with a maximum permissible draught of 16 metres. Ships with the capacity of 8,000 TEUS containers will be able to berth.
The container terminal will be built on 18 hectares, and have an annual capacity of 600,000 to 1.1 million TEUs.
Later, the container terminal will be extended up to 70 hectares, with 1,850 metres berth and have a 2.8 million TEUs capacity.
