Bangladesh plans deep-sea port in Bay of Bengal

DHAKA: Bangladesh is planning to set up a deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal with the hope of servicing trade with Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and India's seven north-eastern states.

The precise location of the port has not been identified, the project being still at a preliminary stage.

A Japanese firm, Pacific Consultant International, has been given the contract for preparing a feasibility report on the project's technical and economic viability.

The cabinet committee on purchase cleared the contract worth taka 140 million ($2.33 million), The Daily Star newspaper reported.

This is the second time the same company has been given the contract for the same purpose, the newspaper said, but gave no details.

Bangladesh does not have a deep-sea port. Chittagong, the principal port, and Khulna and Mangla are all river ports.

Sources in the shipping ministry said a deep-sea port would help Bangladesh service the entire north-eastern region.

Such a port could also be of military use to the Bangladesh Navy. Strategically, a deep-sea port could also help China enter South Asia. China has helped design and build the Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

The purchase committee approved another shipping ministry proposal for the appointment of a consulting firm for the computerisation of the container terminal management system and management information system at Chittagong Port. BDNews