Bangladesh to build deep seaport - minister

By Nizam Ahmed

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh said on Sunday it would build a deep seaport to handle the country's growing external trade and increase regional transit facilities.

Cargo handling at Chittagong port rose 2.3 percent to record 27.6 million tonnes while container handling increased 9.3 percent to 958,020 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2007, from the previous year.

Shipping ministry officials say India and Myanmar repeatedly seek transit facilities from Bangladesh through Chittagong port.

"We will go ahead to build a deep seaport to cope up with our growing external trade and meet requirements of the region," Shipping Minister Afsarul Amin told shipping experts.

Amin was speaking as the Pacific Consultant International (PCI) of Japan placed a study report on feasibility of a deep seaport proposed by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).

PCI suggested that Bangladesh should build the proposed $1.2 billion deep seaport near the country's main Chittagong port by 2055 in three phases, with the first phase completed by 2016.

"The government will take up the project with priority after reviewing the feasibility study conducted by PCI," Amin said when the report was placed following a three-year long study.

PCI was awarded a $1.62 million contract to conduct the study in 2006, after the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) had took up a plan for the deep seaport off Kutubdia coast, 65 km (40 miles) south of the port.