The authorities have set the target to complete the project work of the long-awaited deep sea port in Matarbari of Cox's Bazar by the year 2027.
To this end, ground work of the dream project is now going on in full swing after completion of the tender process for equipment and infrastructure.
Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), implementing authority of the project, told The Financial Express on Wednesday, "Construction work of the Matarbari deep sea port will be started in August this year. As a result, the project work is likely to be completed by 2027."
After recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the ground work of the project has started at a stronger pace and is going on in full swing, he said.
The CPA chief said further, "We've already sent the tenders to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for evaluation. After receiving the report of JICA, we will start the next process."
He added, "The deep sea port of Matarbari will be the regional business hub after completion of its construction. The under-construction Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) and other terminals of the CPA will act as service ports of the deep sea port in future."
He said, "The draft of Matarbari deep sea port terminal is highest among the ports of the neighbouring countries. So, the deep sea port of Bangladesh will be the feeder port of the region."
He also said, "After completion of the deep sea port terminal in Matarbari, the container handling will increase more than four times."
Sources said the total landscape of Matarbari area is now undergoing a radical change with the work of the deep sea port getting underway.
Alongside the deep sea port, implementation work of some other related projects including coal-based power station, LNG terminal and development of highways is also going on.
Sources said the sea port was originally to be built for Matarbari coal-fired power plant; but afterwards the government decided to turn it into a deep sea port.
Work of the project involving Tk 177.75 billion (Tk17,775 crore) began on November 16, 2020. The new deep sea port will be the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
The port is planned to reduce pressure on the Chittagong port.
During the first stage, one 300 metres long multipurpose terminal and one 460 metres long container terminal are planned to be constructed by 2026.
The navigation channel will be of 350 metres length with a maximum permissible draught of 16 to 18 metres.
Ships with the capacity of 8,000 TEUS containers will be able to berth.
The container terminal will be built on 18 hectares of land and have an annual capacity of 600,000 to 1.1 million TEUS. Later, the container terminal will be expanded; up to 70 hectares, with 1,850 metres berth, and have a 2.8 million TEUS capacity.
