Of the many large-scale projects our government has undertaken in the last decade or so, a highly anticipated project is the construction of the Matarbari deep sea port.
The government has been working on developing the capacity of our existing ports, and the Matarbari project -- the first deep sea port in the country -- is expected to become a commercial hub for Bangladesh upon its completion in 2026.
According to the state minister for shipping, once the port is operational, it is predicted to serve hundreds of millions in Bangladesh and its surrounding regions, and could potentially contribute to 2-3% of our country's GDP.
These are, no doubt, promising numbers. Considering the Tk17,777.20 crore being invested into the project, these are certainly the kinds of returns we hope to see.
Reports suggest that in the last 2 years, the cargo ships that have arrived at the Matarbari port have already earned us Tk6.84 crore. Considering that construction for the port has only just begun, it would not be too far-fetched to assume that the predicted outcome of the port could become a reality.
The 1,031 acre Matarbari sea port will be used as a transshipment port, and container ships with a capacity of 8,200 TEU can be anchored to it, saving the country both time and money moving forward.
As the authorities believe, this project could surely be a game changer for Bangladesh, and facilitate faster and direct shipping of goods.
While the project is still a little ways away from being fully functional, it is good to see that the authorities are seeking support from our neighbouring nations in not only the construction, but also the long-term operations of the deep sea port.
These are the kinds of forward-thinking initiatives and projects that our country must invest in, as they are bound to transform our economy in a way that will assist us to realize our ambitions as a nation.
