Dredging for Bangladesh's first deep seaport at Matarbari has begun, a significant step in the project six years post-approval, reports Dhaka's Daily Sun.
Dredging work for Bangladesh's first deep seaport at Matarbari has started, marking a milestone in the long-awaited project six years after approval, reported Dhaka's Daily Sun.
The Chittagong Port Authority signed an agreement last April with a Japanese joint venture contractor to build the port in Cox's Bazar district. Preparatory work, including land acquisition and compensation, is nearly complete.
CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim stated that dredging of the terminal basin will be followed by the phased construction of jetties and installation of equipment. Around 7.2 million cubic feet of sand will be removed before landfilling and jetty construction.
The project is divided into packages covering civil works, cargo-handling equipment, security systems, tugboats, and traffic management. Contracts for Package-2A have been signed, while Package-2B is currently under evaluation.
Officials expect the port to ease congestion at Chittagong Port and cut container transport time by 50 percent and freight costs by 25 percent. The facility will handle mother vessels carrying up to 8,200 TEU.
The project, financed by the Bangladesh government, CPA, and Japan International Cooperation Agency, has a total cost of Tk243.8 billion (US$2.57 billion). Package-1 alone requires Tk62 million.
The port will feature a 460-metre container jetty, a 300-metre multipurpose jetty, 5,100 ground slots, a terminal building, a seawall, a boundary wall, and utilities.
By 2029, Matarbari is expected to handle up to 1.1 million TEU annually, rising to 2.6 million TEU by 2041. Chittagong Port currently handles 3.4 million TEU but cannot accommodate vessels with drafts over 10 metres.
Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Chairman Captain Salauddin Chowdhry remarked that the deep seaport will strengthen trade competitiveness and reduce import costs, benefiting consumers.
The project deadline is set for 31 December 2029. A 14.3-kilometre access channel built earlier for a coal power plant has already been handed over to CPA, ensuring readiness for the seaport's development.
