Japanese firms to build Bangladesh's first deep sea port in Matarbari

In a major infrastructure push, the contract to build Bangladesh’s first deep sea port at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar has been awarded to a joint venture between two Japanese firms—Penta-Ocean and TOA Corporation.

The Tk 243.81 billion Matarbari Deep Sea Port project will be implemented under the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).

A contract signing ceremony between CPA and the joint venture was held at a city hotel on Tuesday, in the presence of Shipping Adviser Dr M Sakhawat.

CPA Chairman SM Moniruzzaman and Penta-Ocean’s General Manager for Maritime, Tomakazu Hasegawa, signed a Tk 61.96 billion agreement covering key civil works.

Calling it a flagship project for Bangladesh, Dr. Sakhawat urged all parties involved to ensure transparency and efficiency during implementation.

“Check your pockets… Bangladesh already has a bad reputation,” he warned, referencing past concerns about corruption.

The Matarbari Deep Sea Port project, initiated in January 2020 by the Ministry of Shipping, is expected to be operational by December 2029. It is backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has committed Tk 179.69 billion in financing.

The port is central to Japan’s vision of developing an industrial belt in the Bay of Bengal region under the "Big B" initiative.

Senior officials, including the shipping secretary, navy chief, JICA’s Bangladesh representative, and officials from the Japanese Embassy, attended the signing ceremony.

smunima@yahoo.com