Dhaka Friday, March 29, 2024


Economic potential surrounding seaports


Published:
2021-03-15 20:24:15 BdST

Update:
2024-03-29 11:56:04 BdST

When we reached the Pigeon Seaport area with the senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was getting late. At the end of winter, all around has been transformed into spring, in a new form. The amazement of spring has appeared in the air by impressing the frosty feeling of winter. It seems to everyone in the minds of the visiting team that this amazement has been further fulfilled by visiting the vast work of Payra seaport. The once vast riverbank is now the country's third seaport, One of the biggest economic centers of the country. Where huge amount of economic activities are being carried out every day. The whole region is enlivened by the eloquence of the busy people. Job opportunities have been created for many unemployed people in the southern part of the country. Solar light has come to Dhaka village in the dark. The look of the whole area has changed. There are cargo ships anchored in the port. Every now and then the goods are unloaded at the huge jetty. Pigeon seaport is having the busiest time even during the hard times of Corona. Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the embodiment of modern Bangladesh, daughter of the father of the nation, officially inaugurated the Pigeon Seaport at Tiakhali in Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali District on November 19, 2013. Its activities were officially launched on 13 August 2016. Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Its activities were officially launched on 13 August 2016. Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Its activities were officially launched on 13 August 2016.

Pigeon seaport is a unique addition to the path of Bangabandhu daughter Sheikh Hasina to build a better Bangladesh. Under his able leadership, one of the most important seaports of the country has been established at Itbaria of Tiakhali Union in the middle of Ramnabad bank of Kalapara upazila. By establishing this port, the legend of the people of the southern part of the country has become embodied in the eyes of the people of the area. The diversity of life and livelihood of the area around this port has increased. At present, about 200 ships operate in the 45 km channel annually. However, once the construction of the entire port is completed, more than 50 ships will be able to operate every day. Construction of some parts of the port building, including the installation of a power plant, has already been completed. Everyone on the inspection team was overjoyed to see the progress of the work of establishing the port. During this special video was shown on various development works of the port and its results; Where the overall activities and future plans of the port are painted. The main objective of establishing this port is to reduce the pressure on Chittagong and Mongla ports and to accelerate the socio-economic development of the area.

The port area of ​​Surajmin has been visited and the Pigeon Seaport has now reached the level of a tourist destination. Visitors are coming from far and wide. From Patuakhali district headquarters to the tourist town Kalapara upazila headquarters, and from there people can easily go to the port area by car. The crowd grows here in the afternoon. Many vehicles come. From Kalapara city, a new route of rickshaws, motorcycles, autobikes has become the way to the port of Payra. The locals are very happy to say that the overall look of the port has changed with the start of construction. Once the people here were reluctant to cultivate their land, but now they are charging gold for that land. Due to this, the days of their financial poverty are also coming to an end. Many shops have been set up in the port area.

The features of Payra seaport are different from other seaports of the country. If you have to rely on tides to navigate ships in other ports, that will not be the case at Pigeon Port. Cargo ships will be able to move easily in this port. Due to the high depth of the route, there is a 24-hour shipping facility. For this reason, realizing the economic importance of this port, the government has taken initiative to turn it into a special area. Submarines are soon to be added to build the Navy into a modern and three-dimensional force. Located next to the country's third seaport, this self-contained and modern naval base is home to naval commandos, aviation, There will be ship and submarine berthing facilities. As this base is in the middle of the coastal region of the country, it will be possible to conduct surveillance in the vast sea area of ​​the country by conducting naval aviation activities from here. Through this naval base, the navy will be able to conduct special operations to ensure maritime security in the south as well as to curb crime in the Sundarbans and adjoining areas. Besides, it will play an important role in protecting the lives and property of the common people during natural calamities. In addition, the Navy will be able to implement the socio-economic development programs adopted by the government for the people of the region by conducting its own various operational and developmental activities. Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque is named after the naval base 'Banauja Sher-e-Bangla'. The Navy will be able to implement the socio-economic development programs adopted by the government for the people of the region through conducting its own various operational and developmental activities. Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque is named after the naval base 'Banauja Sher-e-Bangla'. The Navy will be able to implement the socio-economic development programs adopted by the government for the people of the region through conducting its own various operational and developmental activities. Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque is named after the naval base 'Banauja Sher-e-Bangla'.

The economic importance of Pigeon Seaport is immense. As a shipping-friendly vast area, it is a region naturally suitable for seaport construction. The main geographical advantage of Pigeon Port is that it is an open space for easy establishment of port. There is a lot of abandoned land in Kalapara of Patuakhali for port development and future expansion. There is ample open space in the vicinity to build other collaborative infrastructures, including public and economic zones. In addition to these, the other facilities and possibilities that will open the door to the port of Pigeon are:

Supersar Channel: The minimum depth of water on the way from Outer Anchorage to Rabnabad Channel is about 5 meters. The depth inside the channel is 18 to 21 meters. If dredging is done in the 35 km area of ​​the channel, ships with a depth of 18 meters (maximum 9.2 meters in Chittagong) and 300 meters in length (maximum 18 meters in Chittagong) will be able to come here at high tide.

Possibility to build various installations: The entire Pigeon Seaport is being built on an area of ​​about six thousand acres. Containers, bulk, general cargo, LNG, petroleum and passenger terminals are being constructed at this port. At the same time, it will be possible to build economic zones, readymade garments, pharmaceutical industry, cement, coal-fired power plants, fish processing zones, fertilizer factories, oil refineries, shipbuilding industries and many more.

Fertilizer Factory: At present 30 percent of the demand is produced in the country. The remaining 80 percent has to be imported from abroad. If the LNG terminal is constructed, it will be possible to start a fertilizer factory here through gas.

New employment: About 5 percent of our current population is unemployed, 40 percent is latent unemployed and 49 percent live below the poverty line. In the last 43 years, our population has doubled and by 2020 it will be over 200 million. Huge employment will be needed. The implementation of the Pigeon Seaport project will create thousands of employment opportunities in the EPZ, SEZ, shipbuilding and maintenance sectors. Residents of Barisal, Patuakhali and Bhola districts will benefit the most from the development of new industrial areas.

Expansion of the shipbuilding industry: After the garment industry, the shipbuilding industry is the most dynamic. There are more than a hundred small shipbuilding factories in the country. Bangladesh's market share in the global shipbuilding industry is about হাজার 4 billion. We can soon become the second best exporter in the world in this industry. One of the problems of this industry is the short depth of the channel. Many will relocate their industrial establishments here to take advantage of the relatively deep Rabnabad channel once the Pigeon Port is opened.

Power generation: We want to be a middle income country by 2030. Therefore electricity is required. To this end, the government is building five to six coal-fired power plants in the coastal areas. In the meantime, a company called Northwest has started a joint venture with a Chinese company to build a 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant at Payra Port. A coal terminal is being constructed at Payra port for unloading coal. These activities will also create huge revenue opportunities here.

Supply of food grains in the southern districts: It is easier and cheaper to travel and supply goods by water than by road. This pigeon port will be able to make a significant contribution to the supply of cement clinker and food grains in Khulna and Madaripur areas through Barisal.

Transit Facilities and Economic Corridors: Neighboring countries will be interested in availing transit facilities once it is developed as a full-fledged port due to its coastal location. Besides, the Economic Corridor is being developed in the interest of overall economic development of South Asia with the joint initiative of Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and China. Due to its geographical location, the Pigeon Port has the potential to become one of the most important ports on the Silk Route by sea.

Blue Economy: A conference on Blue Economy was held in Dhaka in 2014 with 32 expert representatives from 19 countries. In her address here, Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the Bay of Bengal as our third neighbor and said Bangladesh's future progress would be ensured through expanding trade by sea, harnessing the mineral resources of the sea and achieving energy security, proper management of marine fish and protection of marine environment and biodiversity. Utilizing the potential of Blue Economy will increase food production in the country, maintain environmental balance, and prevent disasters and catastrophes. Due to the foresight of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, our rights have been established over an area of ​​about 120,000 sq km in the Bay of Bengal. We own all the organic and inorganic resources in an area of ​​about 650 km from Chittagong to the sea floor. It has about 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

Prevention of natural disasters : Barisal divisional area is prone to cyclones and tidal surges. When the Pigeon Port project is fully launched, various installations will be built around it. As a result, the storm will be resisted. Disaster management will be easier. In addition, green belts and eco-tourism will be developed along the coast.

Kuakata-centric tourism industry: By setting up one or more five-star hotels, the area can easily be upgraded to an international standard tourist destination. The plans undertaken for this purpose include: construction of Liberation War Museum Complex, installation of Father of the Nation sculpture, construction of observation tower, construction of jetty / landing station, construction of eco park / forest, construction of special tourist area, construction of Marine Drive, Marine Park. , Construction of sea aquarium, construction of international standard stadiums, introduction of golf courses, construction of tennis complexes, construction of mosques and pagodas, convention centers etc.

Construction of multipurpose terminal at Payra seaport is in progress. India is committed to financing this project with Bangladesh. India is to provide a loan of Tk 4,945.46 crore to Bangladesh for the construction of a 1,200-meter-long multipurpose terminal. Bangladesh's funding here is 263 crore 12 lakh rupees. It is to be built under the Indian Third Line of Credit (LOC). All types of goods starting from stone, sand, containers can be unloaded through the terminal. A mobile harbor crane, 16 tractors, 36 trailers, for unloading at the terminal. 5 fork lifts and 6 small yard cranes are listed for purchase. The total cost of construction of this long multipurpose terminal will be 5 thousand 216 crore 59 lakh taka. The construction of this terminal will further enhance Bangladesh's position in international trade. However, India's delay and delay in disbursing the promised loan has slowed down the pace of work on the project. According to media reports, India is no longer so keen on providing contracted loans. India is focusing more on the deep seaport to be built from Pigeon Seaport on the Sitway (once Akiab) in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which is having an impact on the construction of Pigeon Seaport in Bangladesh. India's investment in the construction of Seatway seaport is 474 million. When the construction of this port is completed, the seatway of Rakhine will be connected with Kolkata by sea. India is no longer so keen on providing contracted loans. India is focusing more on the deep seaport to be built from Pigeon Seaport on the Sitway (once Akiab) in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which is having an impact on the construction of Pigeon Seaport in Bangladesh. India's investment in the construction of the Seatway seaport is 474 million. When the construction of this port is completed, the seatway of Rakhine will be connected with Kolkata by sea. India is no longer so keen on providing contracted loans. India is focusing more on the deep seaport to be built from Pigeon Seaport on the Sitway (once Akiab) in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which is having an impact on the construction of Pigeon Seaport in Bangladesh. India's investment in the construction of Seatway seaport is 474 million. When the construction of this port is completed, the seatway of Rakhine will be connected with Kolkata by sea.

Due to the shallow depth of the river, large ships could not anchor in any port of Bangladesh and stayed in the port of Singapore. From there the goods have to be brought to the port of the country by small ship or lighterage. As a result, huge charges have to be paid to the port of Singapore and for lighterage. Only 16 percent of the world's ships can enter the port of Chittagong. Because the depth of Karnafuli river is not so much. The depth of the Mongla cattle river is even less. As a result, we have to depend on foreign ports and lighterage for both import and export. Currently we have to use Singapore, Colombo and Port Kalang in Malaysia. From there the goods have to be brought or sent to Chittagong port by feeder vessel or lighterage. This increases the export cost. This cost will come down a lot if the pigeon port is fully operational. Pigeon seaport will create huge potential in international trade.

However, if the construction of the port is to be completed on time as per the government's target, there is no alternative to speed up the construction work. So far, the plan for the infrastructural development of the port has not reached the desired level. Infrastructure development is being delayed for various reasons. Expenditure is increasing due to protracted construction of infrastructure. Some experts believe that there is a lack of proper feasibility study and cost estimates behind this. Project officials have no choice but to be more dynamic in order to get the job done on time. Delays in the release of India's promised debt will not stop the work in any way. China has expressed interest in financing the construction of the port. They also agree to finance it individually or jointly with another country. Moreover, several countries in the Middle East and Europe have expressed interest in getting involved with Bangladesh in the construction of deep seaports.

The development and progress of Bangladesh is no longer a dream. All the steps of development are now being implemented one by one in Bangladesh. The country is moving forward under the visionary plan and guidance of the successful Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The dream Padma bridge is visible today. Metrorail is being set up for the first time in the history of the country. Pigeon Seaport is one of the major installations that are accelerating the economic development and prosperity of the country by becoming visible in this progress of development. The port is expected to set new milestones in the import-export trade and overall development of the country.

 

Dr. AK Abdul Momen: Foreign Minister

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

 



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