Construction of the long-anticipated Matarbari Deep Sea Port is set to begin soon, with the final contract signing scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) in Dhaka between the Chittagong Port Authority and two leading Japanese construction giants—Penta-Ocean Construction and TOA Corporation.
Officials say the project is not just another large-scale infrastructure initiative but a transformative milestone. It will be Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port, designed to surpass even Chittagong Port in depth and handling capacity.
Once operational, the port can directly berth container vessels of over 8,000 TEUs, significantly reducing both shipping time and logistics costs while boosting the country’s trade competitiveness.
“This agreement marks a major leap forward for Bangladesh,” said Mohammad Omar Faruk, Secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority. He added that commercial operations are expected to begin by 2029.
According to him, the port is projected to cut transportation costs by up to 57% and save around 60% of delivery time. The Matarbari project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 24,381 crore.
Would you like a follow-up piece on the port’s economic impact or Japan’s involvement in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development?
Cox’s Bazar Life Report/Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Collected
