CHATTOGRAM, Jan 10: The government has extended the tenure of the consultant of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Project by 18 months and increased the cost to Tk 9.91 crore.
The advisory committee of Government Purchase (ACGP) took the decision at a meeting chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday.
Earlier, the consultant, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) was appointed for land acquisition and rehabilitation of the of Roads and Highways portion of the Matarbari Port Development Project.
The Consultant was appointed for 24 months from August 15, 2021 to August 14, 2023.
The ACGP committee extended the tenure from August 15,2023 to February 14, 2025.
The interim government has selected the Matarbari Deep Sea Port as a project for strengthening trade connectivity.
The under construction Matarbari Deep Sea Port will have strategic significance for Bangladesh.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Port's 2nd revised project at an additional cost of Tk 6,573.96 crore.
It is the first big project approved by the interim government.
The project comprises of two components i) Construction of a new Port in Chattogramt, ii) Construction of a new Port Access Road.
Under the project new road will be constructed in Chakaria and Moheskhali upazilas of Cox's Bazar district.
The proposed deep sea port will facilitate berthing mother vessels of nearly with 16 metre draft.
Construction of 14.3km long, 250m wide and 18.5m deep channel for the port has been completed.
The work to widen the channel by another 100 metres is ongoing.
Matarbari Deep Sea Port will unlock new opportunities for Bangladesh.
Analysing the current trends Hamburg Port Consultant of Germany projected remarkable growth in container handling by Bangladesh.
Construction of the country's only deep seaport with Japanese financial and technical assistance would facilitate better handling export and import trade of the country.
