The Chattogram Port Authority is set to sign an agreement with a Japanese company for the construction of the Matarbari deep seaport located in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. The signing is scheduled to take place in Dhaka on April 22. Following the agreement, construction will begin on a terminal consisting of two jetties, with a budget of Tk 6,200 crore. The total cost of the project is estimated at Tk 24,381 crore.
Matarbari, situated about 70 kilometers from Chattogram Port by sea, is being developed on 1,031 acres of land in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. As part of the project, a breakwater has already been constructed in the sea, and a 6.5-kilometer-long, 14.5-meter-deep artificial channel has been created.
Massive ships carrying coal for the coal-based power plant have already started arriving at the port. However, various complications have repeatedly delayed the construction of the deep sea port. According to Chattogram/Chittagong Port Authority, the Matarbari Port Development Project was initiated in March 2020. The plan was to complete it by 2026.
Now, the deadline has been extended to December 2029. As a result, the cost of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port has increased twice reaching to tk 24,381 crore. In the first phase, the cost of the terminal construction is estimated at tk 6196 crore which will be funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency.
As a part of this phase, the Chattogram/Chittagong Port Authority will make a deal with Japanese companies like Penta-Ocean and TOA Corporation on April 22. According to this deal, over the next 4 years, a 460-meter-long container jetty and another 300-meter-long multipurpose jetty will be constructed
On October 21, 2024, the Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain visited the Matarbari deep seaport. At that time, he stated, “The first phase of the port construction has been completed already. The second phase will be finished by 2029. From 2030, large mother vessels will be able to dock at the port for commercial operations”
It is worth noting that the Matarbari port will be able to accommodate cargo vessels with a capacity of 80,000 to 100,000 tons. As a result, the cost of goods will be reduced. By 2029, the port is expected to handle 1.1 million containers annually and by 2041 it is expected to handle 2.6 million containers by 2041.
Courtesy: Kaler-Kantho
Translated by Rafid
