Port Review
Matarbari Deep Sea Port: Bangladesh’s Gateway to Maritime Transformation
1. Introduction
Matarbari Deep-Sea Port, located in Moheshkhali Upazila of Cox’s Bazar District, represents Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port initiative. Conceptualized in conjunction with the Matarbari Coal fired Power Plant, the port is being built to accommodate large mother vessels (8,000–10,000 TEUs) that existing ports like Chattogram and Mongla cannot handle. Its completion promises to transform Bangladesh’s maritime economy and regional positioning.
2. Background & Scope
The project was approved by ECNEC in March 2020 with an original cost estimate of Tk 17,777 crore (\~USD 2.4 billion), financed largely by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (Tk 12,892 cr), with contributions from the Bangladeshi government (Tk 2,671 cr) and Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) (Tk 2,213 cr).
Initial plans foresaw completion by December 2026. However, rising costs and modifications pushed the revised completion date to 2029, with full commercial operations expected by 2030. The budget was revised upward to Tk 24,300–24,381 cr in late 2024.
3. Construction Status & Components
Channel & Breakwaters
Under the Matarbari coal power project (by CPGCBL), a 14.3 km navigation channel—initially planned as 3 km—is under construction, expanded to 350 m width and 16 m (or 18 m) depth to suit deep-draft vessels. A total of roughly 1,750 m north breakwater, 713 m south breakwater, and revetment works have been constructed to stabilize the site. In April 2023, the channel was officially handed to CPA, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated it in November 2023. MV Venus Triumph docking in December 2020 marked the first foreign vessel, followed by Ausu Maro (80,000 tonnes) in April 2023—the largest vessel to visit Bangladesh’s coast to date.
Port Terminal & Jetties
Phase-1 focuses on constructing two jetties: a 460m container jetty and a 300 m multipurpose jetty, with associated yards and terminal facilities. Contracts were signed in April 2025 with Japanese joint venture Penta-Ocean and TOA Corporation. CPA commenced civil works valued at ≈ Tk 6,200 crore, with a completion timeline for phase-1 set to 2029 .
Further elements include reclamation, soil improvement, administrative buildings, warehousing, and logistics infrastructure. Stage-2 plans envisage building three additional container jetties totalling 1,050 m and expanding backyards to over 120 acres; a second stage along Kohelia River is proposed with further jetties by 2028. Ultimately, full berth length may reach 1,850 m across 70 hectares.
Connectivity & Integration
The port will link to road, rail, and river networks. RHD is constructing a 26 to 28 km road connecting Matarbari to the national highway. Rail linkage via the Dohazari–Cox’s Bazar line is expected by 2024–2025. Inland container depots and logistics parks are planned to support full integration.
4. Economic & Strategic Prospects
Handling Capacity & Efficiency Gains
Once operational, the port will handle 0.8–1.1 million TEUs in the first stage, scaling up to 2.8 M TEUs by 2035 and ultimately up to 4.2–4.8 M TEUs by 2041. Bulk cargo throughput is projected between 2.5 and 16–38 million tonnes annually. Compared to current Chattogram operations (3.2 M TEUs in 2022, projected to reach 5.6 M by 2036), Matarbari alone could rival national capacity and relieve congestion at Chattogram Port.
The port also promises to reduce shipping time to the U.S. by roughly 50–60% (from 45 days down to 16–23 days) and lower transport costs by up to 57% (from \~\$3,000 per TEU to less than \$1,300). These improvements make it ideal for exporters, especially garment manufacturers, to avoid transshipment via Singapore or Colombo.
GDP Contribution & Industrial Growth
Analysts expect Matarbari could add \~2–3% to Bangladesh’s GDP. It is being integrated with the Moheshkhali Economic Zone (3,500 acre industrial area) and energy projects such as the coal-fired 1,200 MW power plant, LNG terminal, and renewable energy initiatives. The synergy supports logistic hubs, export-oriented manufacturing, and robust local development.
Employment during construction and operations is expected to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in sectors like customs, transport, warehousing, and services. It also stands to boost regional development and tourism prospects in Cox’s Bazar and Moheshkhali.
Regional & Geopolitical Role
The port’s strategic Bay of Bengal location places Bangladesh at the center of regional trade. Japan sees Matarbari as a gateway linking Bangladesh and Northeast India, forming part of the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B). Business leaders expect it to serve transit goods for landlocked Northeast India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It may also raise Bangladesh’s rank in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index, which currently places it at 88th—well behind India and Sri Lanka.
Major global port operators like Maersk and DP World have expressed interest in joint investments around Bangladesh’s expanding maritime facilities—a sign of international confidence in Matarbari’s prospects.
5. Challenges & Risks
Delays and Cost Overruns
Project delays have already occurred due to land acquisition and design changes. The original December 2026 target was extended to 2029. Budget overruns (from Tk 17,777 cr to Tk 24,300 cr) reflect currency depreciation, rising costs, and scope creep.
Environmental & Security Concerns
Authorities emphasize maintaining greenery and ecological balance within the port zone. CPA has pledged green development practices. Given its open-water location, the port also requires robust security planning to manage both internal and external threats.
Integration Bottlenecks
Without timely completion of connectivity—road, rail, inland depots—logistics benefits may be limited. Social and bureaucratic challenges, including potential delays in railway progress, remain risks. Additionally, some experts in online forums warn that large-scale projects like this “may take forever” unless planning is tightly managed.
6. Outlook & Conclusion
With Phase-1 underway through Japanese EPC contracts and channel infrastructure completed, Matarbari Deep-Sea Port is emerging from planning into execution. If delivered by 2029 and fully operational by 2030, it has strong potential to dramatically reshape Bangladesh’s maritime capabilities, cut export costs and times, support regional industrialization, and position Bangladesh as a trade hub in the Bay of Bengal.
Its success, however, hinges on:
* Timely completion of Phase-1 jetties and terminals
* Strengthening connectivity infrastructure (road and rail)
* Maintaining ecological norms and security readiness
* Effective integration with economic zone, power infrastructure, and logistics parks
Should these milestones be met, Matarbari could generate 2–3% GDP uplift, host millions of TEUs annually, and anchor Bangladesh’s transition into a regional maritime force.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matarbari_Port?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Matarbari Port”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matarbari_Power_Plant?utm_ source=chatgpt.com “Matarbari Power Plant”
https://pressxpress.org/2023/03/24/prospect-of-matarbari-sea-port-in-bangladeshs-economy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Prospect of Matarbari sea port in Bangladesh’s economy – Press Xpress”
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/362667/matarbari-deep-seaport-to-be-completed-by-2029?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Adviser: Matarbari deep seaport to be completed by 2029”
https://businessinspection.com.bd/economy-of-matarbari-deep-seaport/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “The Economic Impact of Matarbari Deep Seaport – Business Inspection BD”
https://lca.logcluster.org/214-bangladesh-port-matarbari?utm_source=chatgpt.com “2.1.4 Bangladesh Port of Matarbari | Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments”
https://lightcastlepartners.com/insights/2024/07/insights-of-matarbari-deep-sea-port-in-bd/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Matarbari Deep Sea Port in Bangladesh for Economic Growth”
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/282562/how-matarbari-deep-seaport-will-seize-immense?utm_source=chatgpt.com “How Matarbari deep seaport will seize immense opportunities”
https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshEconomics/comments/1i9v20v?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Maersk, DP World express interest in investing in Bangladesh shipping sector – Maritime Gateway”
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/print/the-changing-landscape-of-matarbari-1702116578?utm_source=chatgpt.com “The changing landscape of Matarbari”
https://www.reddit.com/r/bangladesh/comments/rkgsqh?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Which would be the most useful megaproject for Bangladesh?”
https://www.reddit.com/r/BangladeshEconomics/comments/134dkvo?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Bangladesh up 12 notches in WB logistics index”
https://businesspostbd.com/economy/matarbari-port-to-be-a-game-changer-for-bangladesh-economy?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Matarbari deep seaport to be a game changer for Bangladesh economy – The Business Post”