Entrepot MIDA to add $150b to BD GDP

An emergent entrepot from the seaside Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated development project is expected to directly and indirectly create 2.5 million jobs and help expand Bangladesh's GDP by US$150 billion.

The popping vista was presented by a delegation of the newly formed Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) before Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday.

Led by MIDA Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun, the delegation met with the head of interim government at the state guest-house Jamuna. Also present were MIDA members Commodore Tanzim Faruq and Md. Sarowar Alam, along with Chief Adviser's Principal Coordinator on SDGs Lamia Morshed and Secretary of the Chief Adviser's Office Md Saifullah Panna.

The MIDA chief gave a presentation on the Maheshkhali-Matarbari project and outlined MIDA's four-month work plan. He said the project would be implemented in three phases: Phase I from 2025 to 2030, Phase II from 2030 to 2045, and Phase III from 2045 to 2055.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus put up grand view of an untapped economy held in the wombs of the Bay of Bengal -- and the multimodal project is to set up the backbone.

"It's not just about a deep-sea port, we must work with a vision of building a Blue Economy. That area will not only be a facilitating zone but a new city will be born there. From there, we will build international connectivity. The sea will become our highway to the world," he told the team.

He placed special emphasis on research concerning the deep sea and stressed establishing an international-standard training facility in the Maheshkhali region.

He suggested seeking advice and cooperation from global experts, if necessary.

He said, "We have never entered the ocean world. We never even thought about it. There is no research, no findings. We need to identify relevant global studies that align with our needs and conduct our own research. For this, institutions are needed. We must develop academia, and host international conferences on ocean economy."

In addition, the Chief Adviser emphasised the importance of environmental conservation alongside the maritime economic ventures.

The meeting also discussed the idea of establishing an eco-tourism park.

The Chief Adviser said, "We must assess the current state of the forests in that area and plan for what we want those forests to look like in the future."

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com