Shipping ministry to set up Ashuganj river port, procure six dredgers
Monday, 12 July 2010
The shipping ministry will set up a river port at Ashuganj and procure six dredgers at a cost of Taka 7.45 billion under US$ 1 billion credit provided by India, reports BSS.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan told the news agency that the decision was taken at a meeting of the concerned ministries on July 8 after approval of 14 projects proposed by India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Delhi visit.
Held at the Prime Minister's office, the meeting was presided over by PM's Adviser Moshiur Rahman. Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader, who was present at the meeting, said the construction of Ashuganj river port would cost Taka 2.50 billion. At the same time, six dredgers would be procured at a cost of Taka 4.95 billion from India.
The shipping ministry will get four of the six dredgers while the water resources ministry will get the remaining two.
The secretary said the rate of interest of the Indian loan is likely to be fixed at 1 per cent. He said the meeting finalised five ports of call for both the countries.
The ports of call in Bangladesh are-- Narayan-ganj, Sirajganj, Khulna, Mongla and Ashuganj. The ports of call in India are Kolkata, Haldia (West Bengal), Pandu (Gouhati), Karimganj and Shilghat (Assam).
Other projects taken under the Indian loan include procurement of Bangladesh Railway's 10 broad gauge locomotives, 125 broad gauge passenger coaches, 60 oil tank wagons, two break vans, 5 metre gauge wagons, construction of second Bhairab Bridge, 300 double-deck busses and 50 articulated buses of BRTC, Ramgarh Sabrum land port link road, Brahmanbaria-Akhaura- Senarbadi road, construction of overpass at Jurain rail crossing, Malibagh rail crossing flyover, Bheramara-Bahrampur 400kv line and four projects of BSTI.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (BIWTA) Chair-man Abdul Malek Mian said India-Ashuganj container terminal via Khulna, Mongla, Barisal and Narayanganj will transport goods to its eastern region.
BTWTA Executive Engineer Rakibul Islam Talukder said implementation of the project would begin on the receipt of the allocated funds. These project would be completed between 2010 and 2013.
Under the Bangladesh-India protocol, Mongla and Chittagong sea port containers, cargo handling jetty and transit shares would be constructed. These would include container jetty, yard, CFS, electrical facilities, office, road security, approach channel, approach road, customs and modern handling equipment.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan told the news agency that the decision was taken at a meeting of the concerned ministries on July 8 after approval of 14 projects proposed by India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Delhi visit.
Held at the Prime Minister's office, the meeting was presided over by PM's Adviser Moshiur Rahman. Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader, who was present at the meeting, said the construction of Ashuganj river port would cost Taka 2.50 billion. At the same time, six dredgers would be procured at a cost of Taka 4.95 billion from India.
The shipping ministry will get four of the six dredgers while the water resources ministry will get the remaining two.
The secretary said the rate of interest of the Indian loan is likely to be fixed at 1 per cent. He said the meeting finalised five ports of call for both the countries.
The ports of call in Bangladesh are-- Narayan-ganj, Sirajganj, Khulna, Mongla and Ashuganj. The ports of call in India are Kolkata, Haldia (West Bengal), Pandu (Gouhati), Karimganj and Shilghat (Assam).
Other projects taken under the Indian loan include procurement of Bangladesh Railway's 10 broad gauge locomotives, 125 broad gauge passenger coaches, 60 oil tank wagons, two break vans, 5 metre gauge wagons, construction of second Bhairab Bridge, 300 double-deck busses and 50 articulated buses of BRTC, Ramgarh Sabrum land port link road, Brahmanbaria-Akhaura- Senarbadi road, construction of overpass at Jurain rail crossing, Malibagh rail crossing flyover, Bheramara-Bahrampur 400kv line and four projects of BSTI.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (BIWTA) Chair-man Abdul Malek Mian said India-Ashuganj container terminal via Khulna, Mongla, Barisal and Narayanganj will transport goods to its eastern region.
BTWTA Executive Engineer Rakibul Islam Talukder said implementation of the project would begin on the receipt of the allocated funds. These project would be completed between 2010 and 2013.
Under the Bangladesh-India protocol, Mongla and Chittagong sea port containers, cargo handling jetty and transit shares would be constructed. These would include container jetty, yard, CFS, electrical facilities, office, road security, approach channel, approach road, customs and modern handling equipment.