Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said that the government has started the construction project of Bay Terminal.
Bay-terminal is said to be the modern port of the future. There will be a breakthrough development in the infrastructure facilities of the sea port in Bangladesh. One aspect of the development framework is the much-discussed Bay-terminal.
Special incentives have been given to berth, terminal and ship handling operator workers under Chittagong Port Authority on the occasion of Great Victory Day. A total of 6 thousand 512 registered workers of 46 organizations have been given incentives of Tk 5 crore 20 lakh (Tk 7 thousand per person).
Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail distributed the incentive cheques in front of the port building on Wednesday afternoon.
At this time Chittagong Port Member (Harbour and Marine) Commodore Fazlar Rahman, Member (Finance) Mohammad Shahidul Alam, Director (Transport) Enamul Karim, Director (Administration) Md Mominur Rashid, Secretary Md Omar Faruq, Berth Terminal and Ship Handling Operators’ Association President Fazle Ikram, Bandar CBA General Secretary Naibul Islam Fatik, Workers leader Mir Nawshad, were present.
Later, while exchanging views with journalists, the CPA chairman said that the Bay-terminal activities will be visible next year around June, 2024. All kinds of work including consultant team, DP work, drawing design, adviser appointment have progressed. It will be able to accommodate any large ship and does not have to wait for tides. Work will begin in mid-June. There will be a port on the seashore, that will be this Bay-terminal. Work of earth filling will be done next year. Vessels with a draft of 12-13 meters will be able to operate 24 hours a day, which can accommodate small and large vessels. On the one hand, the deep-sea port operations will proceed, while on the other, the Bay-terminal work will begin.
Chittagong Port is serving as Bangladesh's main gateway to global trade. The increasing trade demand of the country, geographical locational importance of regional communication and port-centric development thinking have greatly increased the importance of Chittagong port.
He also mentioned that the government is active in continuous development of Chittagong Port.
He said that after four years the work of Chittagong Port will increase many times. Port in Chittagong is important for all sectors to get any development benefits in the country. 2024 will be the year of the Bay-terminal.
Many countries are showing interest in investment in Chittagong Port. In the next four years, 5-7 billion dollars will be invested in Chittagong Port. The more investment there is, the more employment there will be. Technology will be exchanged. Foreign exchange reserves will also increase. Matarbari terminal can accommodate ships with 10-12 thousand containers. If the product is brought in a big ship, it will benefit at the consumer level. There have been significant developments such as launching of 10m draft and 200m length vessels, direct shipping with Europe, Matarbari Deep Sea Port Development Project, construction of Patenga Container Terminal, expansion of outer anchorage, VTMIS, digitization, addition of key gantry cranes for container handling.
He also said that PCT, NCT terminals have been appointed operators and they will work on dividend basis. Large gantry cranes will arrive next year. Also after 1 year PCT will be in full-swing. They can also use port equipment if they want, Saif Powertec is also using it. They can too.
PCT workers-employers will be trained in Saudi Arabia and deployed in the country.
This workers of the country will also get the opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia. It will increase employment abroad. Both domestic and foreign have investment opportunities. In this, everyone will be coordinated in terms of investment.
CPA Chairman said, currently cargo handling has increased, container handling is down a bit. Container handling has declined overall due to global trade.
The South Korean joint venture is also overseeing the construction of the Bay-terminal along with the formulation of the project's master plan. If the project is implemented, Bay-Terminal will speed up the economy.
