Government plans to develop 32,000 acres into major economic zone, prioritising environment, land acquisition and rehabilitation
The government plans to transform Matarbari in Maheshkhali into a major economic, industrial and energy hub while protecting the environment, with a development plan covering about 32,000 acres and expected to contribute around $150 billion to the national economy.
The plan envisages four strategic hubs for deep-sea port and logistics, power and energy, industry and manufacturing, and fisheries processing and marketing.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar said the government would pursue planned development with due importance to environmental protection and the rehabilitation of people affected by the projects.
He also said initiatives would be taken to provide employment and other opportunities to eligible local people.
Sattar, who chairs the high-level coordination committee formed to implement priority projects in Maheshkhali, made the remarks on Sunday during a visit to Matarbari and other project sites under the jurisdiction of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) in Cox’s Bazar.
He said the government was working to expedite the development projects in Matarbari and that the deep-sea port, once operational, would bring significant changes to the country’s economy and trade.
Alongside the ongoing projects, the government was also considering new development initiatives in Matarbari, he said, adding that local interests, rehabilitation and environmental protection would be prioritised during implementation.
In the morning, members of the high-level coordination committee visited the Matarbari deep-sea port, the coal-fired power plant, onshore LNG and LPG terminals, LPG storage facilities, the proposed third floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), the third and fourth units of the power plant, and proposed sites for an oil refinery, petrochemical complex, dry dock, and shipyard.
They also visited the proposed site for MIDA’s own office and areas identified for rehabilitating people affected by the projects.
A high-level coordination meeting was scheduled for 6:00 pm on Sunday at Cox’s Bazar Circuit House to review implementation progress and provide necessary directions on land acquisition, rehabilitation, environmental protection, and coordination among government agencies.
The inspection was led by Sattar and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar, who holds the rank of state minister.
Cox’s Bazar-2 lawmaker Alamgir Mohammad Mahfuz Ullah Farid, secretaries of the power division, energy and mineral resources division, shipping ministry and land ministry, members of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the Chattogram divisional commissioner, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, MIDA members and the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, among others, took part in the visit.
Secretaries of the ministries of local government, finance, planning, industries, fisheries and livestock, road transport and bridges, and environment, forest and climate change were scheduled to join the meeting virtually.
The high-level coordination committee was formed on October 14, 2026, to expedite the implementation of priority projects within MIDA’s jurisdiction and adjoining areas by 2029. The inspection was organised to assess on-the-ground progress and identify implementation obstacles.
Four strategic hubs across 32,000 acres
Under MIDA’s master plan, about 32,000 acres across four unions of Maheshkhali will be developed into four strategic economic hubs: deep-sea port and logistics, power and energy, industry and manufacturing, and fisheries processing and marketing.
The master plan is scheduled to be implemented in three phases between 2026 and 2056. The first phase, from 2026 to 2030, will prioritise key infrastructure, including the deep-sea port, energy terminals and power plants.
A 1,200MW power plant operated by the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited, two floating LNG terminals, gas and power transmission lines, and the single-point mooring system are already operational in the area.
Construction of the turning basin and terminal facilities of the Matarbari deep-sea port is underway.
$150bn contribution to economy expected
According to MIDA, the planned development projects in Maheshkhali could contribute around $150 billion to Bangladesh’s economy.
The projects could generate direct employment for around 150,000 people and indirect employment for 2.5 million others, the authority said.
It also estimated investment potential equivalent to $65 billion, including $5 billion in foreign investment.
The master plan aims to make Maheshkhali an important regional economic centre by harnessing its strategic location along the Bay of Bengal and integrating deep-sea port facilities, energy infrastructure, industrial production and the fisheries sector.
Delwar Hossain, Pekua
