Japanese firm shortlists two port locations

Dhaka: Sonadia or Kutubdia points would be two financially and technically viable locations for establishing a deep-sea port in the country -- said a consultation firm in its primary assessment report yesterday.

The Japanese firm, Pacific Consultant International, in a brief presentation yesterday said both the points have almost similar advantage and disadvantage in establishing the much talked about deep-sea port, a high official at the Ministry of Shipping said yesterday.

However, the firm rejected the idea of building the port at 'Akram Point', 60 km far from Khulna, as the location was financially and environmentally non-viable due to the need to develop a long road link through the Sundarbans.

Nobuaki Nagya and KM Ahmed, executives of Pacific Consultant, made their presentation at the shipping ministry conference room before Shipping Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin and Secretary Sheikh Enayetullah.

A meeting of the steering committee on deep-sea port headed by the shipping adviser is to be held next week to overview developments of the project.

The country has long been planning to set up a deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal with the hope of winning business from Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and India's seven northeastern states -- all of whom are looking for quicker access to deep-sea facilities.
The cabinet committee on purchase in June 2006 approved a contract worth $2.33 million with the Japanese firm for conducting a feasibility study.

The consultancy firm was assigned to assess the overall impact of a deep-sea port on the economy of the country and on the two existing ports -- Chittagong and Mongla.

The firm will prepare a report recommending the location, facilities and details of infrastructure and services to be provided through a detailed study/ analysis on technical, social, economic and financial viability of the deep-sea port, ministry sources added.