Jahirul Patuakhali Correspondent : Payra Port will begin full-scale operational activities from July 2026, said Rear Admiral Masud Iqbal, Chairman of Payra Port Authority. He said that the importance of Payra Port as the country’s first fully dredged and deep-sea port with container facilities will increase with time.
He further said that Payra Port will be developed as a modern, safe and environmentally friendly port. A new industrial area will be developed in the port area, which will provide employment to thousands of people. The participation of domestic and foreign investors along with the government will give a special boost to the economy of the southern region.
He made this disclosure at a view-sharing meeting held at the port’s first terminal building on Tuesday (June 25) morning on port development, progress and prospects.
Commodore Mohammad Abdul Quader (Member, Engineering and Development), Captain Md. Jamal Uddin Chowdhury (Member, Harbor and Marine), Mongla, Payra, Pangaon and Land Port Director Sumon Howlader, Federation of Bangladesh Clearing and Forwarding Agents President Md. Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Director Mamunur Rashid, Patuakhali District Press Club President Anwar Hossain and General Secretary Abdus Salam Arif, along with business leaders, port users-partners, representatives of various departments and organizations were also present in the meeting.
During this time, speakers highlighted the limitations of the port, demanded their immediate overcoming, and emphasized the need to speed up development activities.
Although the channel depth of Payra Port is currently six and a half meters, it will be increased to ten and a half meters through planned maintenance dredging. This will allow large and deep vessels to enter the port, which will put Payra in a special position compared to other seaports in the country. Dredging work at a cost of Tk 589 crore and bridge construction at a cost of Tk 207 crore have already been completed.
Various modern port facilities, including rail links, terminals, pipelines, tug boats and mooring boats, built with Chinese assistance, are being added. Eco-friendly housing projects will be developed around the port, which will enrich the port-centered industrial area.
Before the start of operations of its own terminal at Payra Port, the port has successfully handled 529 foreign ships and 3426 domestic lighterages. Through this, the government has been able to collect about Tk 2079 crore in revenue. The work of upgrading the highway from Bhanga in Faridpur to Kuakata in Patuakhali to six lanes will start soon.
Industrial investment has already increased around the port, and foreign investors have also expressed interest. The port-dependent power plant, Patuakhali EPZ, and its own industrial zone are creating a favorable environment for these investments.
The port chairman said that once the full operations of the Payra port begin, it will enrich a backward town in the southern region and make an unprecedented contribution to the country’s economy. He said that everyone should support the progress of the port in the larger interest of the country.
After the meeting, the guests inspected the port’s development activities. They expressed hope that if the plan is implemented, Payra will become one of the driving forces of the country’s economy.
