With the help of her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina desires to construct two deep-sea ports at Matarbari and Kutubdia in the Bay of Bengal.
A US$3.6 billion soft loan has already been provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency to set up a coal-handling facility at Matarbari, and it is now interested in funding a fully-operational deep-sea port there.
A top government official said if Prime Minister Hasina makes a formal request to Japanese PM Abe at the forthcoming meeting in Bangladesh on Saturday, Tokyo could kick-start the comprehensive development plan.
Prime Minister Hasina said: “The deep-sea port could be a key discussion point between the two premiers as Bangladesh is positive about Japan’s interest on construction of the deep seaports.”
The Netherlands government-owned company – Rotterdam Port, a Chinese company –China Harbour, and a UAE-based company DP World had submitted their expressions of interest to set up the port.
