MoS for time-bound plan for 3rd seaport at Payra in Patuakhali

Nearly two and half months after the inauguration, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has asked the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to prepare a time-bound plan to make the country's third seaport operational, sources said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 19 last year inaugurated the Payra seaport at Kalapara in Patuakhali district. However, the port is yet to be functional due to the absence of necessary infrastructure and other steps, they added.
The MoS in a recent letter also asked the CPA to discuss with the ministries of food and industries the import of food grain and fertiliser through the port. It was also asked to organise seminars and discussions involving traders, so that they can use the port while importing or exporting goods.
The CPA was also asked for carrying out necessary infrastructural development, if needed, in a short time so that the port can be made functional immediately.
In absence of the Payra Port Authority, the CPA has worked as the implementing organisation of the new seaport. It spent Tk 400 million from its own fund for land development, building a warehouse and procurement of pontoon, gangway and other necessary equipment for the seaport.
The government on November 10 passed the Payra Port Authority Bill 2013, under which its head office will be established in Patuakhali district. After appointment of a chairman and establishing an office in Patuakhali, the CPA will hand over its responsibility to the Payra Port Authority, sources said.
Secretary of CPA Farhad Uddin Ahmed has been found to be very optimistic about the future of the Payra seaport. He earlier told the FE that the Chittagong port had started operation with two wooden jetties in 1887. Now it is a 'major seaport'. The new port will become a busy one in the coming years, he said.
A senior official at the MoS said the port had been constructed without carrying out necessary feasibility study and business model. The CPA is going to appoint an organisation for the feasibility study.
"A port should only be constructed after studying its necessity, business prospects, and finding a suitable place. But before constructing the Payra Port, these were not done, which is absurd," he observed.
The official also said the location of the Payra Port was not suitable. Ships over 4-metre draft would not be able to reach the site, he added saying at least 7-metre draft was needed for a seaport.
"To have necessary draft to help ships reach the port, capital dredging of a wide area will be needed which will cost the public exchequer a lot," he said.
Sources said the government would soon search for foreign funds to construct the port in a bigger way. A MoS official said the small-scale construction work was carried out to help attract foreign funds for the port.
In July last year, the government sought Chinese funds for construction of the port during a meeting between shipping minister Shajahan Khan and visiting Chinese vice minister for transport Feng Zhenglin in Dhaka.
According to a technical committee report, the construction of the proposed third seaport will cost around Tk 25 billion which includes the construction cost of some 34-kilometre link road.
Shipping minister Sahjahan Khan earlier said a seaport in Patuakhali district would help in the movement of goods more efficiently than through the ports at Chittagong and Mongla, since it is positioned at the centre of the coast.
He also said the port would help develop the economic condition of the people in that area. The new port would help reduce pressure on the present two seaports, especially the Chittagong port, which faces acute congestion frequently.
Shipping ministry officials said the country's external trade has been growing up at a rate of 20 per cent every year, and most of it is being carried out through the Chittagong port. They said activities at Mongla port would gain momentum when the Padma Bridge was constructed.