Adviser: Master plan of Matarbari Seaport to be reconstructed

Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping met with Iwama Kiminori, the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, on Wednesday to discuss the reconstruction of the master plan for Matarbari deep-sea port.

During the meeting, the adviser highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Japan and Bangladesh, emphasizing their multifaceted relationship.

He acknowledged Japan’s significant role in Bangladesh’s socio-economic development.

The Matarbari deep-sea port, the only such port in Bangladesh, is being constructed with financial and technical assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

He said that the port is crucial for Bangladesh, as its construction will enhance the country's economy and expand import-export trade.

The development work of the port is progressing rapidly, and once the first phase is completed, the Matarbari Deep-Sea Port Authority will be formed to further expedite the port's activities.

The adviser expressed optimism that the port’s operations will begin by 2030.

The adviser said that the Matarbari deep-sea port is strategically and geopolitically important, not only as a regional connectivity hub.

As a result, the master plan for the construction of the port is being restructured to consider the evolving regional and global security situations.

The plan includes the construction of an international standard dockyard.

The government is also working on a National Port Strategy to bring coordination and efficiency to the country's port operations, for which Jica’s technical support is expected.

The adviser informed the ambassador that a high-level committee is being formed to assess the environmental standards of the shipbreaking industry. This committee will visit the ship recycling yards and submit a report with recommendations to the government.

Additionally, the maritime adviser requested Japan's professional and technical assistance for the development of Bangladesh's marine academies.

The Japanese ambassador reiterated that Japan has been a long-standing friend of Bangladesh, supporting its development in various sectors, including education, health, human resources, and infrastructure for over fifty years.

He highlighted the efforts of Japanese volunteers working in remote areas of Bangladesh.

The ambassador reaffirmed Japan's commitment to assisting Bangladesh’s development and said that Jica is dedicated to advancing the Matarbari deep-sea port project.

He expressed hope that with everyone’s cooperation, the port will be completed on time.

The ambassador also showed interest in collaborating on Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry.