The government is poised to approve a massive support project worth Tk14,908.83 crore to kickstart the construction of the Bay Terminal in the Anandabazar area of North Halishahar, Chattogram—marking a significant leap forward in Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure development.

The proposal, titled Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project (BTMIDP), is scheduled for presentation at the upcoming meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Sunday, according to Planning Commission sources.

Under the proposed plan, the government will construct critical infrastructure including a breakwater, navigation access channel, common utility facilities, internal roads, a service jetty, and linkages to the national road, rail, and energy grids.

The project is targeted for completion by June 2031, although the construction of three terminals under the Bay Terminal scheme is expected to begin earlier. Two of the terminals will be developed under public-private partnerships (PPP). MoUs have already been signed with Enterprise of Singapore (2018) and DP World of the UAE (2019) for Terminal 1 and 2 respectively, while a third agreement was inked last year with Abu Dhabi Ports Group for a multipurpose terminal.

Officials from the Chattogram Port Authority have stressed the urgency of launching the infrastructure works to maintain investor confidence and ensure smooth implementation of the PPP terminal projects.

The World Bank has already approved an initial loan of $650 million for the construction of the breakwater and navigation channel. The total loan requirement is estimated at $850 million, and the World Bank has assured the government it will provide the remaining funding.

According to the project breakdown:

• Tk8,269.85 crore will be spent on constructing the breakwater,
• Tk1,979.45 crore on the navigation access channel,
• Tk57.70 crore for installation of navigational aids, and
• Tk3,434.68 crore for common facilities and hinterland connectivity.

The Bay Terminal project has been under discussion since 2013, when the government first adopted a policy to expand Chattogram Port’s capacity. A pre-feasibility study was conducted by Hamburg Port Consultant of Germany in the same year, followed by a full feasibility study and master plan completed by South Korea’s Kunhwa in 2021.

Once completed, the Bay Terminal is expected to accommodate larger vessels, increase container handling capacity, boost foreign direct investment, and position Bangladesh as a regional trade and logistics hub.