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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the Matarbari Deep-sea Port channel at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar on November 11.
She will also lay the foundation stone for construction of the first terminal of the deep-sea port on the same day. The Deep Seaport is scheduled to commence operations in 2026 and is a significant national project.
Previously, the state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) handed over the channel to the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) on September 20.
As a result, the CPA will now manage the Matarbari channel, overseeing dues, berth hire charges, piloting, tug charges, berthing, and other associated fees.
Omar Faruk, the Secretary of CPA, stated, "CPA has made comprehensive preparations for the channel's opening."
He further added, "The CPA's Deep Sea port is poised to become a regional business hub, accommodating the largest mother vessels once the construction is completed. This development is expected to position it as a crucial regional hub for the import and export of neighboring countries."
CPGCBL constructed the channels and two jetties, originally intended for coal-fired power plants, with a channel length of 14.3 kilometers, a width of 250 meters, and a depth of 18.5 meters for the 1,200MW coal-based power plant construction project.
In preparation for the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, the channel's width was increased by 100 meters to 350 meters.
The project also involved the construction of 1,753 meters of breakwater in the north, 713 meters of breakwater in the south, and 1,803 meters of revetment in the north to enhance the channel's safety and security.
Originally planned to support the Matarbari Coal-fired power plant and alleviate pressure on the Chattogram Port, the government decided to transform it into a deep sea port.
Work on the project, with a budget of Tk 177.75 billion, commenced on November 16, 2020.
In the initial phase, a 300-meter-long multipurpose terminal and a 460-meter-long container terminal are expected to be completed by 2026.