Sheikh Hasina offers Chittagong port to India’s northeast for use during meet with Jaishankar

[LakeHawk180]

Higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the ocean, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel

Inshallah, hopefully very soon.

 

[Samar111]

Thank you little brother.

 

[bluesky]

Long Live India Bangladesh friendship!

But, ask Modi to pay the uses fees to BD regularly.

 

[Bilal9]

Bold part: You can expect Kanjoosi from the Indians. They are culturally and traditionally very tight-fisted miser. If BD insists on giving us fair fees, they will cite 1971, saying although poor themselves, how west Bengal and Tripura accepted refugees from BD.

Why river ports are important

By the way, BD should take lessons from the Indian proposals to navigate cargoes through BD rivers. BD itself should build tens of river ports that can handle containers, the similar as your photographs show.

With river containers at points like Faridpur, Goalando, Aricha, Sirajganj, Tangail, Rajshahi, and hundred others, it is possible to spread the export/ non-export industrialization throughout the country, even in the northern Rangpur and Dinajpur.

These river ports can facilitate cargo transport from these far places to the Seaports in Chittagong, Matarbari, Payra, and Mongla at costs much lower than the trucking costs directly from these points to the sea ports.

I hope, someday the GoB comes out with such a plan. Trucks or railways bring the containers to the river ports, small cargo ships carry them to the Sea ports.

This is how the entire country can be industrially developed. Even products for local uses can also be transported in smaller 8' or 10' containers depending upon the volume of orders.

The transport cost will come down and people with money will build industries in their localities. The country equally develops.

My thoughts exactly @bluesky bhai, this will need to happen per demand priority....

 

[satyamev]

Per capita is over rated.
With millions in poverty , a few ambanis can make the per capita look better then it is for a large proportion of the people.
Trickle down effect is a illusion.
India has to reduce its population by sending the millions of illegal Bangladeshis back to Economic tiger BD.
Also open the gates for the millions who idolize Pakistan and send them their.
More similar shortcuts are needed to speed up actual equitable growth.

 

[bluesky]

It is a good news for BD and India both that Indian NE can use the Chittagong Port. The protocols will be signed at a due time some day to facilitate this. The port will boost earnings with its use by the Indian NE.

However, I have reasons to believe that this offer to India is to offset a future decision on Chittagong metro rail project awarded to China. Note that China has asked for a large plot of sea beach land near Patenga (?) in exchange for doing metro project with its own funds.

So, I believe this offer to India is to balance the Chinese project offer. But, what will happen to Korean offer to build the ctg. metro, I don't know. I wish the govt to plan another metro line that can be offered to Korea. We need also Korean investments in BD.

 

[Destranator]

Per capita is over rated.
With millions in poverty , a few ambanis can make the per capita look better then it is for a large proportion of the people.
Trickle down effect is a illusion.
India has to reduce its population by sending the millions of illegal Bangladeshis back to Economic tiger BD.

Congrats, milestone already achieved. Illegal BD's do not exist in India except for criminals given shelter by India and smugglers crossing over temporarily.

 

[bluesky]

The above is a picture of Maitree Setu built over the river Feni that has connected Bangladesh with Tripura. This is one condition necessary to fulfill before offering the Chittagong Port for use by Tripura/ India.

In my opinion, Matarbari deep seaport construction is another condition. Matarbari will take much of the loads of the international trades making Chittagong free to handle additional cargo from Tripura/ Indian NE.

I believe that the GoB will ask India to pay for its trucks/ cargoes running over BD roads. It should also get some fees at the port for handling the cargo loads.

 

[HydraChess]

I believe that the GoB will ask India to pay for its trucks/ cargoes running over BD roads. It should also get some fees at the port for handling the cargo loads.

Sure as hell it will be done. Someone needs to pay for using Bangladesh facilities and labour. It cannt come free.

Even in India trucks entering states pay octori, why will BD allow trucks from India enter free in BD. Similarly, goods unloading and loading at its ports cannt be free of charge! Someone needs to pay the port workers!

 

[bluesky]

Sure as hell it will be done. Someone needs to pay for using Bangladesh facilities and labour. It cannt come free.

Even in India trucks entering states pay octori, why will BD allow trucks from India enter free in BD. Similarly, goods unloading and loading at its ports cannt be free of charge! Someone needs to pay the port workers!

Actually, my point was that the GoB will be earning money from charging the transport and port fees and its people will be working to earn money. But, somehow I forgot to write these important points.

 

[Bilal9]

View attachment 840632

The above is a picture of Maitree Setu built over the river Feni that has connected Bangladesh with Tripura. This is one condition necessary to fulfill before offering the Chittagong Port for use by Tripura/ India.

In my opinion, Matarbari deep seaport construction is another condition. Matarbari will take much of the loads of the international trades making Chittagong free to handle additional cargo from Tripura/ Indian NE.

I believe that the GoB will ask India to pay for its trucks/ cargoes running over BD roads. It should also get some fees at the port for handling the cargo loads.

Chittagong port’s capacity would be enhanced 3 to 4 times after the completion of the Bay Terminal and Matarbari Port Development Project.

Currently CTG port handles more than 3 Million TEUs Containers every year, probably more than all East Coast Indian ports combined, with additions of Patenga now and operationalization of Bay Terminal in 2024, Chittagong alone will exceed JNU in West Coast India (Mumbai area?) which handles 4.7 Million TEUs (which is 55% of India's container handling trade).

With Mongla and at some point Matarbari going live, Bangladesh will end up handling another 3~4 Million TEUs again in addition. Probably more - because Matarbari will be able to handle super Panamax mother vessels.

This is main jetty of CTG port which is handling containers way over capacity at this time.

Here is a conceptual illustration of Bay terminal being built in Halishahar area. I think it is not too far from where @AmiEktaKharapChele bhai is located. He might be able to give us a better scoop.

Chittagong itself is building another large jetty and terminal in addition to what it already has (including Patenga Terminal which is going operational this July). It is Bay terminal which will accommodate higher draft mother vessels in Chittagong itself. Please see image above.

Besides - new terminal in CTG (Patenga Terminal) will open this July (built by Bangladesh Army Engg. Brigade) - which can handle 4.5 lakh TEUS extra containers a year. Image for new Patenga terminal which was being built and finished last year.

The 800-meter jetty at Patenga Terminal will be able to accommodate three container vessels of 190 meters long and 9 meters draft and an oil tanker at the 220-meter long Dolphin jetty.

Operation of bay terminal expected in 2024: Khalid Mahmud

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, “Construction of the much-desired bay terminal in Chattogram's Halishahar beach area is expected to be completed in 2024. However, no investors have been finalized yet. Bay terminal like Padma Bridge is a matter of pride for Banglad

www.bangladeshpost.net

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Operation of bay terminal expected in 2024: Khalid Mahmud​

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By Chattogram Correspondent
Published : 19 Aug 2021 09:52 PM | Updated : 20 Aug 2021 12:59 AM



State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inspects the Bay Terminal at Halishahar in Chattogram Port on Thursday afternoon.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, “Construction of the much-desired Bay Terminal in Chattogram's Halishahar beach area is expected to be completed in 2024. However, no investors have been finalized yet. Bay terminal like Padma Bridge is a matter of pride for Bangladesh”.

The state minister made the remarks while inspecting the Bay Terminal at Halishahar in Chattogram Port on Thursday afternoon.
“Chattogram Port is at the end of its capacity due to various limitations. So the Bay Terminal project has been taken to keep the country's economy afloat. The prime minister had said there would be a bay-terminal there. The timeline has already been fixed. Chattogram Port will start construction of a multipurpose terminal here land has been acquired. The work of filling the soil may be slowing down”, he added at the time.

He said many foreign investors were overwhelmed by the construction of the Bay Terminal. It is taking some time because of Covid-19. Bangabandhu's words are friendship with everyone. Therefore, the responsibility will be given by protecting the interests of the country. Money is not a problem and it can be paid in phases. We have funded the Padma Bridge ourselves. If we want, we can do it with our own funds. However, many outsiders are interested in investing. We are talking to them. But no investor has been finalized yet.

Shipping Secretary Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, PPP Authority CEO Mrs. Sultana Afroz, Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, Port Member Md. Zafar Alam, Secretary Md. Omar Faruq and Chattogram Port officials were present on the occasion.

Sultana Afroz, chief executive officer of Public-Private Partnership Authority, said construction of the bay-terminal would be completed in 2024. The Prime Minister is regularly looking into the matter. Hopefully, the work on the Bay Terminal will be completed within the stipulated time frame. We are sitting with regular investors. It may not be possible to speak directly because of Covid. However, they are in regular contact. We will give them this job if we find investors at our convenience. Work will be given by protecting the interests of the country. Institutions from many countries including Singapore, China, Denmark are coming. Our coordination is very strong. Going to see the ground will benefit the work. We believe it is important for the country's economy.

Chattogram Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said work was underway to recruit a new consultant. We are sincerely trying to finish all the work. We have kept the port operational 24/7 under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Besides, I am working in phases for the construction of this project. Hopefully, this project will be completed by 2024.

Port officials said the bay terminal will have 3 terminals. Of these, Terminal-1 will be funded by Chattogram Port. Ships with a draft of 22 meters will be crowded at the Bay Terminal. There are 11 kilometers of natural islands, which will act as breakwater. The terminal will operate 24 hours a day. There will be arrangements to keep 15 thousand trucks.
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Bay Terminal project to gather pace​

Operation to start by 2024, says state minister for shipping

Dwaipayan Barua
Fri Aug 20, 2021 12:00 AM Last update on: Fri Aug 20, 2021 09:01 PM

Construction work for Bay Terminal, a long-awaited mega expansion project of the Chattogram port, has gained momentum as the government has set 2024 to start operation of the terminal.

The construction of the Bay Terminal, a long-awaited project of the Chittagong port, is gaining momentum after slowing down due to the coronavirus pandemic as the government looks to complete it by 2024.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, said the government had set the time frame to start the operation of the terminal.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the project site on the Halishahar coast in the port city yesterday. Senior officials of the ministry and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority accompanied him.

The terminal is being constructed on around 2,500 acres of land. It will have a length of 6.15 kilometres, stretching from the backside of the Chattogram Export Processing Zone to Rasmonighat at the Halishahar coast of the Bay of Bengal.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) came up with the plan a decade ago.

Talks on the Bay Terminal began in 2011 as the prospect of building a mega container terminal emerged after an 11km natural island surfaced from the seabed near the Halishahar coast, creating a natural channel for vessel movement.

In August 2016, the CPA appointed a joint venture comprised of two German firms -- Sellhorn Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH and HPC Hamburg Port Consulting GmbH -- and a Bangladeshi firm KS Consultants Limited to conduct the feasibility study.

The JV submitted the report and a master plan in 2017, describing the project economically and technically viable. Though the business community has long been demanding for the beginning of the project as part of the much-needed expansion of the country's premier seaport, it got delayed.

Chowdhury said it was initially decided that one single firm would build the whole terminal under the PPP model.

To speed up the implementation, the project has now been divided into three parts. The CPA will build one part on its own.
The CPA will construct a multi-purpose terminal, while two container terminals will be set up under the PPP model.

Five international port giants, including PSA Singapore, China Merchants Sports Holding Company Ltd, DP World of the UAE, and International Port Development Co-operation of Korea, have expressed interest in funding and constructing the mega project.

Some changes have to be brought to the original plan after the latest decision that the CPA would implement a part of the project, the state minister said.

After completing the official procedures, the CPA would commence the construction work, he said.

The acquisition of 68 acres of privately-owned land has been completed. In addition, the shipping ministry has approved the acquisition of 804 acres of government land.

"Land development activities on the acquired area are going on," Chowdhury said.

He said the project saw slower than expected progress due to a lack of experience in the construction of projects under the PPP model and also for the pandemic.

Many foreign investors earlier visited the project site and expressed interest to set up the terminal. With the resumption of global connectivity, the government has started communicating with the investors again.

"Discussion with the foreign investors is going on," said Sultana Afroz, chief executive officer of the PPP Authority.

CPA Chairman M Shahjahan said it had appointed a consultant to carry out the detailed design of the terminal it would build.
The firm will also update the 2017 feasibility study report and the master plan. After getting the report, the CPA will formulate the development project proposal and start construction accordingly.

CPA Chief Hydrographer M Arifur Rahman said vessel movement to and from the Chittagong port through the Karnaphuli channel depended on high tides.

"But vessel operation at the proposed Bay Terminal will be possible round the clock."

According to the feasibility study, vessels with a draft up to 12 metres can be berthed. The port now allows vessels with as high as 9.5 metres of the draft to moor.

"The new island will ensure safe vessel movement in the channel," said Rahman.

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Patenga Container terminal likely to open in July​

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By Staff Correspondent
Published : 30 Apr 2022 08:49 PM


The Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) in Chattogram Port may be launched in the first week of July. The port authority expects to handle 4.5 lakh TEUS containers a year.

Four companies from Saudi Arabia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, India and Singapore wanted to operate the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) but no one has been finalized yet. These include the Red Sea Gateway Terminal in Saudi Arabia, DP World in Dubai, Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Limited in India and PSA in Singapore. It will be decided by the Prime Minister's Office which organization will be responsible for the operation of Patenga Container Terminal.

It is learned that Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) is being constructed to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port in line with the growth of the country. The construction of the project is 90 percent complete. If all goes well, the operational activities will start from July 2022. Once the construction of the terminal is completed, it will be operated and maintained by an international private operator. It will have a container handling capacity of 4 lakh 50 thousand TEUs per year.

The project has completed construction of three jetties in 583 meter container terminal, 204 meter dolphin jetty, 80,000 sq meter RCC pavement / yard, 420 m flyover, four lane road. Other constructions including office building are also nearing completion. Approval has already been given to buy tugboats, pilot boats, speed boats and petrol pick-ups.

A project titled 'Equip, Operate and Maintenance of PCT on PPP Model' is being undertaken for the recruitment of international standard private operators for the project under Public Port Private Authority (PPP) system. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its policy approval.

At present 32 lakh containers are being handled through Chattogram port. Chattogram Port Authority will have to handle 58 lakh 19 thousand units in 2031 and 75 lakh 97 thousand units in 2043.

Engineer Mizanur Rahman Sarkar, Project Director of Patenga Container Terminal, said, "The construction of Patenga Container Terminal is 90 percent complete. The operation will start in the first week of July. However, four companies from four countries want to work as operators of PCT. Which will be selected from the Prime Minister's Office. '

He said, "It will be possible to unload ships at Patenga container terminal in less time than the main jetty of the port." The three jetties of the PCT will be able to carry ships up to 190 meters in length at the same time. Besides, the road connectivity with this jetty is very good. Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Omar Faruq said, "The place of professionalism of international operators is much stronger. The construction of the PCT is almost 90 percent complete.

The project titled Patenga Container Terminal, which is being implemented by the Chattogram Port Authority at its own expense, was approved at an estimated cost of Tk. 1,868 crore on 13 June 2017. The deadline for its implementation was December 2019. RDPP was sent by Chattogram Port proposing an estimated cost of Tk 1,393.41 crore and extension of the project till December 2021. According to a pre-survey, the annual operating cost of the terminal is 8 million.

When the terminal is fully ready, there will be facility for loading and unloading of containers from three ships simultaneously. It can handle 4.5 lakh containers a year. There will also be facilities for loading oil tankers. Ships of 9.5 meter draft and 190 meter length can be loaded at this terminal.

The army is implementing the construction of Patenga container terminal. After completion of the work, they will hand over the terminal to Chattogram port.

 

[Bilal9]

Should we be even offering use of our ports to Indian states ? What do we gain from this by helping Indian land-locked States?

What is the possible benefit at all to us in Bangladesh ?

You may think this is click bait, but they actually discuss the relevant points very carefully.

 

[Bilal9]

Another thought provoking video, hold your prejudice and listen to what he says...

 

[bluesky]

Here is a conceptual illustration of Bay terminal being built in Halishahar area.

I was in Chittagong for about 1 year, and as far as I remember, Halishahar is located less than 1 km away from the present Ctg. port terminal at the bend of river Karnaphuli. Anyway, this is very normal to extend a port to its adjacent area and is denoted by Terminal- 1 or Terminal-2 or in any other way.

And Patenga itself is a little away. So, another terminal is being built there. Will it be called Patenga Terminal? Or Terminal-3? There is a very wide road that goes from Halishahar to the cable factory. So, I assume that the newly built Patenga Terminal is located at the beach where this road leads.

Should we be even offering use of our ports to Indian states ? What do we gain from this by helping Indian land-locked States?

What is the possible benefit at all to us in Bangladesh ?

You may think this is click bait, but they actually discuss the relevant points very carefully.

I already watched this video. I think this Captain is thinking too narrowly. His assumption that the GoB will hand over the operations of the Ctg. port to India is to spread lies. So, I stopped watching when I saw his motive.

Any country including Indian NE, Bhutan or Nepal can use our port, but it does not mean the control goes to them. It is preposterous to say so. Sovereignty will lie with BD.

 

[bluesky]

Another thought provoking video, hold your prejudice and listen to what he says...

BD wants a peaceful coexistence with India, its big neighbor. It is true that Chittagong Port can be used to blackmail by BD, but it will be a passive one. BD has no power to start trouble with India though India has the power. BD will not suddenly stop its use.

So, it can be seen that giving many facilities to India through BD land, sea and river system gives BD a respite from worrying about a large border conflict with India. India will be tamed by this BD kowtow policy.

A peaceful coexistence with India is what BD can solicit.