Arafat kader, Chattagram

After three consecutive works were disrupted due to local obstructions, Matarbari Deep Sea Port (Deep Sea Terminal) and Terminal Pre-Preparatory Construction Work has resumed.

In the face of protests by locals demanding compensation for relocation of residential infrastructure, the pre-preparatory construction work of the project, including dam construction, soil filling, and marking of the project area, was stopped. This also caused insecurity for foreign engineers working on the project.

After the obstructions by locals, officials of the administration, Chittagong Port Authority, Bangladesh Navy, and Coast Guard went to the spot and met with the locals to bring the situation under control.

On Sunday (October 26) afternoon, after a meeting between the administration and locals in the project area of ​​Maheshkhali, the situation normalized and work resumed.

In that meeting, Assistant Manager (Estate) of Chittagong Port Authority, Muhammad Shihab Uddin, said that 283 acres of land have already been acquired for the construction of Matarbari Deep Sea Port and compensation for damaged infrastructure has already been paid. But when the project work started, 17 families of the acquired part demanded an additional twenty-five percent of the infrastructure value for relocation. They claimed that they had received this money in other projects. Since the infrastructure value is determined by the district administration and the district administration has to determine the acquisition of the relevant immovable property under the title of Matters to be considered in determining the acquisition as per the Acquisition and Commandment of Immovable Property Act 2017, if the district administration is forced to relocate the interested person due to the acquisition, the amount of compensation for the property should be determined by considering the reasonable expenses for such relocation.
As a result, Chittagong Port has no scope to pay additional money for the relocation fee of infrastructure as per the said act.

On March 30, 2023, Chittagong Port Authority paid Tk 164 crore for the land acquisition.

The project is being implemented jointly by Japan’s Penta Ocean and Towa Corporation, funded by the Japanese agency JICA. The project will include the construction of a jetty, terminal and container yard. Soil filling, wall construction and other preliminary work have started from October 2025.

Acting Chairman of Dhalghata Union Parishad Atahar Iqbal Dadul said, “The people of this area are mainly dependent on salt and fish farming. They have lost their land due to the project. 17 local families have sought compensation for the relocation of their houses. However, we have requested the port authority to give priority to the locals in the project work.”

He added that after a meeting with the administration, the locals have decided not to obstruct the work.

In-charge of Matarbari Thermal Power Plant Police Outpost Nam Taibur Rahman said at the meeting that the Matarbari Deep Sea Port Project is a symbol of friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan. If any unpleasant situation arises, it will be dealt with strictly. He advised that any demands of the locals be resolved through proper process.

In the meeting, the locals demanded that they be included as workers in the Matarbari Deepsea Terminal project as part of the Karma Yoga project.

Representatives of the Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Coast Guard, engaged NGOs and the project consultancy firm MPCT were present in the meeting.

After the meeting, the suspended activities of the project were resumed in the presence of the administration.