The total investment amount will be 9-10 billion dollars. Bay -Terminal will be entirely foreign investment. #A channel of 12-14 meters draft will be created. There will be four terminals.
Chittagong Bay Terminal is going to be the biggest mega project of Bangladesh. This project will be the largest investment in the history of the country, which will be entirely foreign investment.
Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail gave this information during an exchange of views with journalists on the occasion of the 137th Port Day on Wednesday (April 24) afternoon. He spoke to journalists at Shaheed Fazlur Rahman Munsi Auditorium.
Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said, ‘Bay Terminal is going to be the biggest mega project of the country. Foreigners will invest one billion dollars in the port’s multipurpose terminal. A total of 9 to 10 billion dollars will be invested here. It is the biggest investment in the history of Bangladesh; All of which will be done by foreigners.’
He said, ‘We have got the land. The master plan is done. The bay-terminal will have the deepest channel in the country. Its draft will be 12-14 meters. All designs are finalised. The good news is that there were supposed to be three terminals here. Now there will be four terminals.’
The multipurpose terminal will be operated by the Chittagong Port Authority. Terminal-1 will be managed by Singapore Port Authority and Terminal-2 will be managed by Dubai-based company DP. They will build and operate two terminals with an investment of one and a half billion to three billion dollars. A liquid bulk terminal will be built by a domestic company. Half a billion dollars are being invested there’ said Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail.
Matarbari seaport will have its own terminal in three-four years, the port chairman said, ‘Survey work is going on for acquisition of 700 acres of land in the second phase of Matarbari. Besides, efforts to procure support vessels are continuing. So that the terminal is not closed even for a day.’
“Last year was successful,” he said. We had a transformative and historic year. Through an excellent deal, we were able to hire a foreign operator at the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT). This will protect the country’s interests and increase foreign income.’
“There are employment opportunities in PCT. Apart from foreigners, officers and employees have been appointed from this country. They are now undergoing training. Besides, all the equipment will be available in PCT within one-and-a-half years. The competition has already started all over the world. It has created one of the opportunities for the country.’
In response to a question from the journalists, the port chairman said, “The foreign operator who has received the work order will have to pay 250,000 container handling rent in PCT every year. Whether there is container handling or not. Everyone knows about the needs of Bangladesh. If the bay terminal and deep sea port are opened, the existing port jetties will be able to accommodate lighter ships and passenger ships.
In order to protect the Karnaphuli river from pollution and prevent waste, he said, “Karnaphuli is the heart of the Chittagong port. This river is like our mother. River digging, waste removal is being done regularly. The operation is being conducted by its own magistrate. Nets will be placed at the mouth of the canal by the port to prevent waste.
Commenting on the safe release of the MV Abdullah, the country’s image has improved, Mohammad Sohail said, “The country’s image has been brightened as the MV Abdullah ship was safely freed from the pirates of Somalia. This has been made possible by the sincerity of the government, including the Prime Minister, and the diplomatic activities of Bangladesh.
Chittagong Port Board Member (Engineering) Captain Mahbubur Rahman, Member (Administration and Planning) Habibur Rahman, Member (Finance) Shahidul Alam and Secretary Omar Farooq were also present at this time.
AAZ/EA/GKS
