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A deepwater port is being built in Matarbari, very close to Sonadia. Also, having two ports could upset the natural balance, which is why the government has made this decision, said Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam.
The cabinet meeting on January 2, 2012 approved the policy of the draft ‘Sonadia Deep Seaport Port Authority Act’.
A virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday approved a proposal to overturn that decision eight years ago.
The cabinet secretary said: “Sonadia was supposed to be a deep sea port. But later, the government decided that there would be no more seaport in Sonadia. A seaport is being built in Matarbari, very close to Sonadia ”.
Explaining the government’s decision, Anwarul said: “Since it happened in Matarbari, if Sonadia has a seaport again, much of our natural diversity will be lost.” When he got caught up in the study, the government decided that it was not necessary to make a seaport in Sonadia at the expense of nature. I am more suitable in Matarbari. “
When the Awami League came to power in 2009, it announced the construction of a deep sea port in Sonadia at Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The feasibility study is also being carried out through Pacific Consultants International, a Japanese consulting firm.
At that time, the phased development of this deepwater port was estimated to cost Tk 55,000 crore over 25 years. It was said that if there is a deep sea port in Sonadia, by 2020 there will be 64 times more containers than the Chittagong port.
The Chinese government is interested in investing in the port of Sonadia. When Chinese President (then Vice President) Xi Jinping visited Bangladesh in 2012, the talks took a turn for the worse.
After that, the two countries exchanged letters about the project, but no real progress was made. During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to China in June 2014, there was talk of signing a memorandum of understanding with China to build a deep-sea port, but this did not happen.
A Reuters report at the time said the issue had not been raised in the tender for the amount of funds.
Meanwhile, construction of a deep-water port began at Payra in Patuakhali. India also showed interest in building a deep-water port in Bangladesh at that time.
But when the question arises as to whether the depth of the dove is adequate for a deep sea port, that priority government project also stops.
In August 2014, the government approved a Tk 36,000 crore project to build a 1,200 megawatt coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Maheshkhali, just 25 km from the proposed deepwater port in Sonadia.
According to their study, the construction of the project was financed by Japan and the Matarbari area is suitable for the construction of a deep sea port.
Then, on March 10 this year, ECNEC approved the construction of the country’s first deepwater port in Matarbari at a cost of Tk 16,006 crore.
Japan is providing Tk 12,792.06 crore as loan assistance of the estimated cost of Tk 17,086.18 crore for the project.
Of the remainder, the government will provide Tk 2,061.15 crore and the Chittagong Port Authority will provide Tk 2,213.24 crore.
The project initiated by the Ministry of Shipping will be jointly implemented by the Chittagong Port Authority and the Department of Roads and Highways by 2026. All designs, including design and layout, are carried out under the supervision of Japanese experts.
Within the framework of this project, two terminals of 300 and 480 meters in length will be built in the deepwater port with a connecting road. This will facilitate the transport of goods directly from large ships.
Port: the government ‘leans’ on the Japanese proposal, not on China
Deepwater port stalled ‘financially’
India is also interested in deep ports
The government agreed to build the country’s first deepwater port at a cost of Tk 18.08 crore
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