CHATTOGRAM, April 24: Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said that all the Bay Terminal will be completed with foreign investment worth $3 billion.
CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said this while exchanging views with journalists on the occasion of the 137th Port Day on Wednesday.
He said: "The land acquisition, master plan and design drafting for the bay terminal have been finalized. There will be four terminals. A foreign company will build and operate two terminals with an investment of $3 billion. "
The port chairman said: "Despite slowdown of global economy following Covid epidemic, Russia-Ukraine war, and recent tensions in the Middle East, the container handling at Chittagong port faced no major impact. As a result container handling in the first 9 months of FY 2023-24 has increased by 8.2 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal. If the growth continues, this time the container handling will stand at 3.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent unit)."
The CPA Chairman said: "We have kept our waters safe with the cooperation of Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard and others. Employment opportunities are increasing when foreign investment comes to the port.
In response to a question, he said, "If the bay terminal and deep sea port are opened, lighter ships and passenger ships will be able to enter the existing port jetty."
The Chairman of CPA said: "In the first 9 months of the financial year, general cargo handling was 9 crore 16 lakh 49 thousand tonnes. At this time, 3 thousand ships were handled. 2 thousand 850 meters revetment work has been completed on both banks to protect the navigability of Karnaphuli river."
He also said, Matarbari seaport will start operations in its own terminal in three-four years. In Matarbari, the survey work for the acquisition of 700 acres of land in the second phase is going on.
Regarding the pollution of Karnaphuli, he said, Karnaphuli is the heart of Chittagong port. We are doing river excavation, waste removal regularly. A net will be placed at the mouth of the canal on behalf of the port to prevent waste.
"The image of the country 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, diplomatic activities of Bangladesh, he added.
