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Bangladesh is discussing about deep sea port since long. The last BNP govt took initiative to study the feasibility of a deep sea port. But it did not go further.
Dr. Mohammad Yunus, our Nobel laureate, in late 2006 and early 2007, in the loudest voice and in full conviction pronounced the need of a deep sea port. He also demanded setting up of a mega-port in Chittagong for exploring the potential of the area and bringing economic development.
With facilities for docking larger vessels the mega port could turn this region into a commercial hub of international standard benefiting all users, said the Nobel laureate.
Through opening the mega port for China, north-eastern states of neighbouring India and for landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan the wheel of the country’s economy can be moved faster, he said.
The mega port could be run as a social business where the poor and underprivileged women could also be among the stakeholders like those in Grameen Bank, he added.
A highway linking the neighbouring landlocked countries will also be required to facilitate transport of goods from the mega seaport, Dr Yunus said
But his comment drew mixed reaction from the politicians and citizen groups.
The present caretaker government in its early months took initiatives to explore the possibility of deep sea port. But after the feasibility study by a Japanese firm which stated that Tk 42,000 crore would be spent for the port to be completed in three phases by the year 2055. The new caretaker government abandoned the process on the plea that it will take long time and huge amount of money , the project of such magnitude could only be taken by a elected government. But the main reason to avoid the plan is likely to avoid political criticism.
When Bangladesh is sleeping, our neighbors are advancing on their deep sea port projects.
Under an economic cooperation strategy (ECS) of Combodia, Laos Myanmar and Thailand are building a deep-sea port at Dawei. Myanmar is also developing another port at the south west point of its border along the sea.
India is working on a deep sea port in Bay of Bengal. West Bengal is entrusted with the responsibility to invite bidding for the project, a Dutch company is already showed its interest in the project. Deep sea port will also enhance their chemical hub in the area.
Even Pakistan has more than one deep sea port.
.It is true that the cost of deep sea port is huge, it will not be possible for Bangladesh to bear the burden alone. It will require the international support. There was an alternative proposal from Dr. Yunus where he said that deep sea port may be started on the principle of social business and common people could be immensely benefited by such a project..
Deep sea port is taking the same fate of optic fiber connection which Bangladesh adopted years after other countries of the world and of the region adopted the technology.
The saying ‘What Bengal thinks today, rest of the India thinks tomorrow’ has been reversed because of lack of foresight of our political leaders and criticism from ‘experts’ under the disguise of ‘patriotism’.
Time is not yet over, Government should reconsider the situation and take necessary steps as early as possible at least to be at par with other neighbors
Dr. Mohammad Yunus, our Nobel laureate, in late 2006 and early 2007, in the loudest voice and in full conviction pronounced the need of a deep sea port. He also demanded setting up of a mega-port in Chittagong for exploring the potential of the area and bringing economic development.
With facilities for docking larger vessels the mega port could turn this region into a commercial hub of international standard benefiting all users, said the Nobel laureate.
Through opening the mega port for China, north-eastern states of neighbouring India and for landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan the wheel of the country’s economy can be moved faster, he said.
The mega port could be run as a social business where the poor and underprivileged women could also be among the stakeholders like those in Grameen Bank, he added.
A highway linking the neighbouring landlocked countries will also be required to facilitate transport of goods from the mega seaport, Dr Yunus said
But his comment drew mixed reaction from the politicians and citizen groups.
The present caretaker government in its early months took initiatives to explore the possibility of deep sea port. But after the feasibility study by a Japanese firm which stated that Tk 42,000 crore would be spent for the port to be completed in three phases by the year 2055. The new caretaker government abandoned the process on the plea that it will take long time and huge amount of money , the project of such magnitude could only be taken by a elected government. But the main reason to avoid the plan is likely to avoid political criticism.
When Bangladesh is sleeping, our neighbors are advancing on their deep sea port projects.
Under an economic cooperation strategy (ECS) of Combodia, Laos Myanmar and Thailand are building a deep-sea port at Dawei. Myanmar is also developing another port at the south west point of its border along the sea.
India is working on a deep sea port in Bay of Bengal. West Bengal is entrusted with the responsibility to invite bidding for the project, a Dutch company is already showed its interest in the project. Deep sea port will also enhance their chemical hub in the area.
Even Pakistan has more than one deep sea port.
.It is true that the cost of deep sea port is huge, it will not be possible for Bangladesh to bear the burden alone. It will require the international support. There was an alternative proposal from Dr. Yunus where he said that deep sea port may be started on the principle of social business and common people could be immensely benefited by such a project..
Deep sea port is taking the same fate of optic fiber connection which Bangladesh adopted years after other countries of the world and of the region adopted the technology.
The saying ‘What Bengal thinks today, rest of the India thinks tomorrow’ has been reversed because of lack of foresight of our political leaders and criticism from ‘experts’ under the disguise of ‘patriotism’.
Time is not yet over, Government should reconsider the situation and take necessary steps as early as possible at least to be at par with other neighbors
