The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the country’s first deep-sea port project to be built in Matarbari of Cox’s Bazar by 2026.

The approval was given during the ECNEC meeting at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The government took the decision with an aim to fulfill the demand of international trade as well as facilitating speedy port services with the neighbouring countries, reports BSS.

The Chattogram Port Authority and the Roads and Highways Division will implement the Matarbari Port Development Project involving Tk 177.77 billion.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the planning minister said out of total project cost, Tk 26.71 billion will come from the Government of Bangladesh portion, Tk 22.13 billion from the CPA while the rest of Taka 128.93 billion from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The minister said main objective of the project is to enhance the cargo handling capacity of Bangladesh through constructing this Matarbari Port including link road.

Mannan said the Matarbari sea port would be the country’s 4th port after Chattogram, Mongla and Payra and it would be built as a huge port due to the growing pressure of economic activities.

“This is another ‘dream’ project for the country and it will further strengthen our journey towards the ocean as well as boost our trade and commerce,” he said.

Another official at the Planning Commission said that Matarbari Port would fulfill the government’s aspirations for a deep sea port side by side creating opportunities for anchoring container-laden vessels, open goods-laden vessels and oil tankers at the port jetty.

Besides, this port will minimise the pressure on the Chattogram Port alongside meeting the growing demand of the country’s import and export activities.

Goods transportation to and from the potential industrial estates at Matarbari and Moheshkhali will also be facilitated after establishment of this port.

The Matarbari Port will have two separate Terminals having 300 metres and 460 metres length where ships having 8,000 TEUs containers could anchor due to its 16-metre draft at the port channel.

The main project operations include construction of a multipurpose terminal and a container terminal, procurement of necessary cargo handling equipments and construction of 26.7 kilometres link road.

Tuesday's ECNEC meeting approved a total of nine projects, seven new projects and two revised projects, involving Taka 241.13 billion.

The planning minister said out of the total project cost of the nine projects, Tk 61.51 billion will come from the Government of Bangladesh, Taka 22.13 billion from the concerned organisation’s own fund while the rest of Taka 157.49 billion as project assistance.

Ministers and state ministers attended the meeting while Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.