Bangladesh’s interim government will review the Bay Terminal project, a major expansion of the Chattogram port, as it reassesses large-scale infrastructure projects approved under the previous Awami League administration.
The Bay Terminal, the largest expansion in the port’s history, has seen limited progress since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the master plan on November 14 last year.
Despite initial groundwork, including land preparation, there has been minimal visible progress on the project. Global port operators have shown interest in investing over $8 billion, according to sources, but the new government now seeks to re-evaluate the project’s feasibility and necessity.
The Shipping Ministry has called for a high-level meeting on November 10 to discuss the Bay Terminal project in depth. Senior officials from various government bodies, including the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), and representatives from development partners, including the World Bank, are expected to participate. Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, an advisor to the Shipping Ministry, will chair the meeting.
As part of the interim government’s review, the CPA has been requested to present a detailed progress report on the project. CPA Secretary Md. Omar Faruk confirmed that the ministry convened the meeting to assess the Bay Terminal’s status and potential next steps.
Dr. Hussain recently inspected the Bay Terminal site and remarked that, while he observed no significant issues, further discussions were required to understand the project’s long-term implications.
The Bay Terminal project, proposed on 2,500 acres at Patenga on the Bay of Bengal’s coast, includes plans for four terminals aimed at boosting Bangladesh’s port capacity and supporting economic growth.
The new government’s focus on evaluating large projects approved by the previous administration reflects its cautious approach to substantial investments, ensuring alignment with national priorities and economic sustainability.
