Dhaka, May 12 (BDNEWS) - The government has decided to appoint consulting firms to carry out a detailed techno-economic feasibility study for establishing a deep seaport in Bangladesh.
Eligible consulting firms will be invited through advertisement in the newspapers within the next week.
The ministry of shipping at an inter-ministerial meeting Thursday took the decision to invite consultants, both from international and national levels, by the next week.
Shipping Minister Col (Rtd) Akbar Hossain chaired the meeting. Among others, members of the committee on deep seaport and cabinet secretary Dr Sadaat Hossain, secretary of the economic relations division Ismail Jabiullah and shipping secretary Rafiqul Islam were present.
Ministry sources said the feasibility study is expected to be completed within one year from the signing of the contract.
The study will cover review and analysis of present situation, port administration model, public-private participation model, assessment of potential market and business opportunities, site selection, survey and investigations, planning and cost estimates, project appraisal and, project management model and other ancillary services.
Nepal Chandra Sarker, joint secretary of the Shipping Ministry said the feasibility study will be finished in two phases. Of which, the work of the first phase will be completed within four months and soon the firms will submit the report to the government.
He said consultants would be selected, in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulations Act 2003.
Experts say, Bangladesh locates in a vintage ground and, a deep seaport could boost up its trade and economy, in addition to increase the country's competitiveness in globalised world.
Because of Bangladesh's geographical and strategic advantages, the proposed deep seaport could be used as regional hub port, the inter-ministerial meeting was told.
The port could be used by the land-locked Nepal, Bhutan, northeastern region of India and southern part of China and Myanmar. On the other hand, Bangladesh will earn huge amount of money just by rendering services to these countries commercially.
When asked about Bangladesh's prospective revenue earnings if the port was built, Nepal Chandra said the consultants will project it in their study.
BDNEWS/1728 hrs
