The future of the deep sea port is in doubt as the government is very slow in doing the tasks suggested in a feasibility study two years ago. The Techno-Economic Feasibility Study, submitted to the Shipping Ministry in July 2009, recommended setting up of a deep sea port authority.
The ministry made the decision to form the body at a meeting yesterday, after two years. Another recommendation was to enact the proposed Deep Sea Port Act, which is pending with the finance ministry. Yesterday's meeting requested the ministry to immediately send the draft law to shipping ministry with opinions.
The only progress made regarding the proposed deep sea port at Sonadia Island in the Bay of Bengal was formation of a cell in August, 2010. The cell is responsible for executing the port related decisions quickly. The study, prepared in three years at a cost of $4 million, outlined a three-phase construction plan and a detail design of the port, and assessed huge financial potential. It also chalked out how the port can be built under public-private partnership (PPP).
The first phase of the construction is supposed to start at the end of this year and complete by 2015 at a cost of Tk 13,000 crore. As per the study, the port can go into operation in 2016 if the suggested work is done in time. Construction of the port is supposed to begin after drawing of its design, but the government is yet to select a design consultant. Seven firms, however, were short-listed for the job.
The then shipping minister Afsarul Amin told journalist in 2009 that it might take them a year to have a complete design. Shipping ministry officials said everything will be delayed and none can say when the construction works will start. The second phase will be completed in 2035 at a cost of Tk 26,000 crore, and it will be changed to a full-fledged and modern international port with the completion of the final phase by 2055 spending Tk 1,100 crore.
“The deep sea port will have an enormous positive impact on the economy since the study estimated about two percent GDP growth,” said KM Ahmed, who was the director of deep sea port project. “Everything is outlined in the study, but the progress made so far is very disappointing,” he told.
If constructed, the port will generate massive employment and earning opportunities. It will also boost export and import and will massively increase the country's capacity to handle cargo. The carrying cost of both incoming and outgoing goods will come down significantly as the port will become a regional hub handling a massive traffic.
According to the feasibility study, a total of 16 container berths, including nine international ones will be constructed in the fist phase. There is no alternative to a deep sea port as capacity of the country's largest Chittagong Port will totally be exhausted by 2015. “The Chittagong port is already facing problem with large ships,” said KM Ahmed, adding that Bangladesh will face serious problem without a deep sea port once transit is allowed to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
“The major problem will be that the government will have to update the feasibility study due to the delay,” said a senior official of the shipping ministry, adding many of the data has already become obsolete. The feasibility study prepared at a cost of $4 million. Experts say the entire money might be wasted as the government failed to move with the deep sea port project.
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