Desk Report:
Chittagong on path to world-class port, capacity to increase 4 times
The country’s main seaport, Chittagong Port, is on the path to achieving new commercial goals. Where daily ship movements, container handling and crane operations will maintain the country’s economic momentum. Currently handling 3.3 million TEU (20-foot equivalent units) containers per year, the port aims to increase its capacity by almost four times to 10.7 million TEU by 2040. This huge initiative is not just an expansion of the port; it is also a preparation for Bangladesh to reach a new position as a trade hub in South Asia.
To reach this goal, emphasis is now being placed on infrastructural integration. For this, Chittagong Port has sought the cooperation of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways to modernize and integrate road and rail connectivity from Mirsarai Economic Zone to Teknaf. Because, the pressure of container handling will increase many times compared to the present in the next two decades.
The future roadmap of the port was presented at a high-level meeting chaired by the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashiq Chowdhury. The meeting presented a step-by-step picture of the three-year capacity increase in container handling capacity from 2025 to 2040, as well as a proposal to implement short, medium and long-term recommendations. Later, a report in this regard signed by the Secretary of the Port Authority, Md. Omar Faruk, was sent to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping. The implementation process of which is now under the close supervision of the government’s policymakers. The report on the three-year capacity increase said that currently 1.3 million containers are being handled annually at the New Mooring Container Terminal of the Chittagong Port and 2 million containers are being handled at the General Cargo Berth (GCB). In total, this port has a capacity of 3.3 million TEUs. By 2030, the total capacity of the Chittagong Seaport will stand at 4 million TEUs. Among these, the container handling capacity of Matarbari Deep Sea Port (8 lakh), Bay Terminal City-1 (1.8 lakh), Patenga Terminal (5 lakh) and Laldia Terminal (9 lakh) will increase by TEU.
Similarly, according to the plan of this ongoing project, the construction of Bay Terminal (CT-2) will be completed by 2030-2035. This will increase the container handling capacity by another 1.8 lakh. In addition, there are plans to launch the terminals of Matarbari Deep Sea Port between 2035-2040. If this initiative is implemented, a new 1.6 lakh container handling capacity will be created in Matarbari. In total, the total capacity of Chittagong Sea Port will be 1.7 crore TEU in 2040, which is almost four times the current capacity.
Responsible officials of the port authority said that efforts are being made to implement multiple infrastructure projects in line with this goal. Among these, the Laldia Terminal construction contract is in progress, the Bay Terminal is progressing rapidly, and the implementation of Matarbari Deep Sea Port is almost complete. The baseline report of the ongoing ‘Bangladesh National Port Strategy’ project with the assistance of JICA has also set a handling target of 10.7 million TEUs by 2040.
According to the information, the port authority has said that there is a need for a coordinated initiative of three ministries (Navy, Road and Railway) around the activities of Chittagong Port. In particular, a project to build a connecting road to Teknaf via Bay Terminal and Karnaphuli Tunnel for exporting products manufactured in the Mirsarai Economic Zone to foreign countries is already in the planning stage.
Chittagong on path to world-class port, capacity to increase 4 times
In addition, Bangladesh Railways is currently transporting containers on six routes through three pairs of trains; a goal has been set to increase this to eight routes using the existing infrastructure. However, if the second phase of Matarbari Terminal is launched, there will be additional pressure on the Fasiakhali connecting road and rail track; which needs to be coordinated in advance, the report mentioned.
When asked about this, Chittagong Port Secretary Md. Omar Faruk told Ajker, ‘Currently, Patenga Terminal is working at full capacity. The work on the Bay Terminal is progressing, and Matarbari is being implemented quickly. If everything goes according to plan, we will reach 1.7 million TEU handling capacity by 2040.
On the other hand, businessmen are seeing the government’s roadmap for implementing the short, medium and long-term development plan for the country’s main seaport as a very comforting step for business and trade and economic dynamism. Amir Humayun Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Port Users Forum, told Ajker Patrika, “The development of the port is undoubtedly positive, but the development of the projects should not leave the people in the dark and should not go into the hands of foreigners. Therefore, all work should be done through open tenders.”
