Bangladesh signs MoUs with China firms to build Payra Port structures

The government has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two Chinese firms for the construction of the main structure of Payra Port, a dam to protect the waterside and other buildings.

The government expects to build the main structure of the third port of Bangladesh within 2023.

Payra Port Authority Chairman Commodore Md Saidur Rahman, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) Joint Managing Director ML Zen Nanhai and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) Managing Director Li Shujiang signed the MoUs on behalf of their organisations.

>> CHEC will build the main structure of the port under one of the three MoUs.

>> The two other MoUs, signed with CSCEC, are for the construction of the protection dam and structures for education and health services.

>> These three of the nine phases of the port project will be implemented under a government-to-government cooperation.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, after witnessing the signings at his ministry on Thursday, said the deals to construct the main structure and other buildings would expedite the development of Payra into a modern port.

"I hope the financial agreements will be signed soon," he added.

He also said the main structure would be built by 2023, but many other works like the construction of an airport and a satellite city may not be completed by that time.

It was said at the signing ceremony that the MoU on the main structure also includes constructions of the road and bridge linking the port, the other necessary structures, sewerage line, link roads and rail lines.

The port is being built on a more than 7000 acres of land on the west bank of Ramnabad Channel in Patuakhali's Kolaparha.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk 11.44 billion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the port on Nov 18, 2013.

Ships have started anchoring at the port even before the construction of the main structure.