By Maloy Kumar Dutta & Meah Mohammad Arif 

COX'S BAZAR, Nov 10, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday 
will inaugurate Matarbari deep seaport's 14.3-kilometre-long artificial 
navigation channel stretching from the proposed terminal to the sea and lay 
the foundation stone for the construction of the first terminal of the port 
which is targeted to start operations in 2026.

The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has completed all preparations for the 
opening of the channel. The premier will formally open the channel at 
Matarbari under Maheshkhali upazila in the district at 2.30pm tomorrow, said 
CPA Secretary Omar Faruk.

She will also inaugurate the 1200-MW power plant's first unit (600 MW) and 
Single Point Mooring (SPM) at Matarbari under Maheshkhali upazila.

Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League (AL) president, will join a public meeting 
at Matarbari Thermal Power Plant Project's township ground at 3.15pm under 
the arrangement of AL's Maheshkhali Upazila unit.

The construction of 460-meter long container jetty and 300-meter long 
multipurpose jetty with an 18.5-meter draft (underwater part of the ship) and 
various port facilities, including a container yard will begin tomorrow.

This development will enable 8,000 to 10,000 container ships to directly 
access to the jetty.

The state-owned CPGCBL has already constructed channels and two jetties as 
part of the coal power project to pass 120 ships through this channel for the 
coal-fired power plants.

Matarbari Port Development Project aimed at establishing the nation's first 
and sole deep sea port, was undertaken at a cost of around Taka 17,777 crore 
with a project duration extending until December 31, 2026.

On September 20, Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) 
handed over the responsibility of the channel to the CPA after it was created 
under the Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Project, said 
CPGCBL managing director Abul Kalam Azad.
 
Talking to BSS, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said when 
the Matarbari deep sea port goes into operation, it will add $ 2-3 billion to 
the country's economy as the cost of transporting goods from Singapore and 
Colombo ports will be reduced by 10 to 20 percent.

He said the port will be a cornerstone of South Asia, ushering in with new 
hopes for economic uplift and industrialization.

He also said that this port is being constructed on an area of 1,031 acres 
along the shores of the Bay of Bengal to allow ships to be anchored there 
carrying containers with a capacity of 8,200 TEUs. 

He said Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has taken Matarbari deep seaport 
to a dreamed place, as she was the first to think of building such a port 
with massive potentials there.

Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said the port will be 
the life line of the country's economy as Bangladeshi businessmen will no 
longer have to wait at the ports of Singapore, Colombo and Malaysia for goods 
after the inauguration of Matarbari port. 

Currently, it takes 45 days to ship a product shipment from Bangladesh to 
America, he said, adding upon opening of the port, it will need just 23 days 
to reach the destination directly.

Matarbari Port Development Project director Zahid Hossain said that the 
construction of 14.30 km long approach channel with a width of 350 meters and 
a depth of 16 meters has been completed for the purpose of constructing a 
deep sea port. 

Also, the construction of 2,150-meter breakwater (wave barrier dam) on the 
northern side of the approach channel and 670-meter long on the southern side 
has been completed, he added.

Matarbari terminal, once implemented, will be able to accommodate commercial 
vessels with a depth of 16 meters or more, he said

According to the project details, the work of connecting the National Highway 
with the Matarbari Port by constructing a 27.7 km road is also underway under 
the project.

Matarbari port development project has been undertaken at an estimated cost 
of over Tk 17,777.20 crore for the establishment of the country's first and 
only deep sea port. Out of this, Taka 8955.82 crore will be spent on the 
construction of seaport.

The Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 
will provide a total loan assistance of Taka 12, 892.76 crore for the 
construction of ports and roads.

The port will have the capacity to handle an estimated 0.6 to 1.1 million 
TEUs (20-foot containers) by 2026 and an estimated 2.2 to 2.6 million TEUs by 
2041. 

Matarbari port development project was approved in the ECNEC meeting on March 
10, 2020. 

The duration of the project is from January 2020 to December 31, 2026. The 
project is being implemented by the Chittagong Port Authority (CHABAK) of the 
Ministry of Shipping. Apart from this, the Department of Roads and Highways 
is constructing roads in the project area.