Project >> Brief on Listed Projects

The Ministry of Shipping and the Bangladesh Sthala Bandar Katripaksha (BSBK) decided to develop eleven land ports on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement through private sector for better and efficient storage and handling of cargo. Eleven land ports are listed below:

1.	Birol
2.	Banglabandha
3.	Bibirbazar
4.	Hili
5.	Sonamasjid
6.	Teknaf
7.	Tamabil
8.	Akhaura
9.	Burimari
10.	Haluaghat
11.	Bhomra

1.1 Birol Land Port

Birol land port is situated in Birol upazila of Dinajpur district. The port had good potential to handle imports of rice, wheat, sugar, fruits and food items. This port connects West Bengal province of India (west Dinajpur), which is highly productive for growing rice, pulses, spices etc, which are needed to be imported to Bangladesh. The project was listed on 17 May 2005 and awarded to Birol Land Port Ltd. to develop and operate the port. But no development work started till date.

However, it is severely under-performing due to the fact that there is slim commercial activity between Bangladesh and India through this port due lack of road communication to the Port, which is yet to be built by the government. Also there is a rail connection near this port between India and Bangladesh which is also not operating due to difference of gauges in rail lines. The port operator did not develop the port due these complications.

1.2 Banglabandha Land Port

Banglabandha land port is located at the north-western tip of Bangladesh in Tetulia under Panchagar district on the Bangladesh-India highway. This land port was planned for handling import from Nepal. This project was listed on 17 May 2005 and awarded to Banglabandha Land Port for development and operation.

However, this port is currently not operational as India is not allowing Nepalese trucks to come into Bangladesh through Indian corridor and there is no active tri-partite commercial agreement amongst the three countries.

1.3 Bibirbazar Land Port

Bibirbazar land port is located in Comilla district, about 200 m away from the Indian border line. This port connects Bangladesh with the seven sister provinces of India and has immense potential to grow. Major potential imports through this port are food items such fruits, spices and fish, and printed papers. The project was listed on 17 May 2005 and awarded to Shepherd Comilla Land Port Ltd for development and operation.

The operator has in the mean time developed the port with desired facilities, but, the facilities are remaining idle as India is not allowing Indian trucks to come into Bangladesh through this port.

1.4 Hili Land Port

Hili land port is located in Dinajpur district. It handles fairly large varieties of consumer goods imported from adjoining towns of West Dinajpur in the West Bengal province of India. Rice is the most important item imported through this port. This project was listed on 17 May 2005 and awarded to Panama Hili Port Link Ltd. for development and operation.

The operator has partially developed the port and the port is operating with limited facilities.

1.5 Sonamasjid Land Port

Sonamashjid land port is situated in Chapai Nawabganj district. The port connects two Indian states Bihar and West Bengal with Bangladesh. It has good potential to handle import of pulses, spices, oil seeds etc. The project was listed on 17 May 2005. The port was awarded to Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Ltd. for development and operation of the port.

However, it is currently partially operational as the port operator did not develop the required facilities with desired quality and standard.

1.6 Teknaf Land Port

This land port is located in Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district bordering with Myanmar and is the only land port for handling trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar. It handles a wide variety of goods imported from Myanmar like rice, fish and other food and agricultural items.

The project was listed on 11 August 2005 and awarded to United Land Port Teknaf Ltd. for development and operation. The private operator developed the desired facilities and currently running as a vibrant port.

1.7 Gulistan- Jatrabari Flyover Project

Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover is to be constructed on BOOT basis under Dhaka City Corporation. The project received approval for listing from PICOM on 13 March 2005. The main objective of this project is to minimize traffic congestion in Gulistan, Motijheel and Jatrabari areas and ease movement of vehicles linking the capital with Chittagong and south-east region. The proposed length of the flyover is around 7 km.

Contract was awarded to Belhasa-Accom in June 2005 through signing the concession agreement. Due to legal complexities, Dhaka City Corporation later declared the agreement as “Null and Void.” The matter is currently under jurisdiction of the Court.

1.8 Tamabil Land Port

Tamabil is situated in Goyanghat upazila of Sylhet district. The proposed area of this port is about 15 acres. Estimated capital cost of the project is Tk. 95 m, with the implementation period of 2 years. The port will be awarded to a private investor for 25 years. The project was listed on 11 August 2005. In this project, pre-qualification of the bidders has already been completed. Draft Tender Document, Concession Agreement and Land Lease Agreement have been prepared. Due to litigation for land acquisition further progress has not been possible.

1.9 Akhaura Land Port

Akhaura is located in Brahmanbaria district. The proposed area of the port is about 15 acres. Estimated capital cost of the project is Tk. 87 m, with an implementation period of 2 years. The port will be awarded to a private party. The project was listed on 11 August 2005.

Tender document, Concession Agreement and Land Lease Agreement is under preparation.

1.10 Burimari Land Port

Burimari is in Patgram of Lalmonirhat district. Estimated capital cost of the project is Tk. 132 m. The port will be awarded to a private party. The project was listed on 11 August 2005. In this project, pre-qualification of the bidders has completed. Tender document, Concession Agreement and Land Lease Agreement is under process of preparation.

1.11 Haluaghat Land Port

Haluaghat land port project is located at Mymensingh district. Estimated cost of the project is Tk. 67 million, with 2-year implementation period.

The project was listed on 11 August 2005. There are two Land Customs Stations within half kilometer and which will operate as land port has not been decided. Therefore, land requisition has not been completed.

1.12 Bhomra Land port

Bhomra is about 15km from Satkhira district town and 355 km from Dhaka. The proposed area of this port is about 15 acres. Estimated cost of the project is Tk. 96 million.

The project was listed on 11 August 2005. Pre-qualification of the bidders was completed. Tender document, Concession Agreement and Land Lease Agreement have also been prepared. However, land acquisition is not completed due to litigation in High Court.

2. Long Term Development of Two Incomplete Jetties of Mongla Port through BOT Basis

Mongla Port Authority decided to construct and operate two of the incomplete jetties at Mongla on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis through private sector. It was listed on 20 June 2007. This project's main objective is to facilitate berthing of ships and cargo handling at Mongla port. Estimated cost of the project is Tk. 300 million, with an implementation period of two years. Project site is located at the southern side of Mongla Port Authority jetty no-5.

Mongla Port Authority will hand over about 18 acres of land to the lessee for construction of two jetties and ancillary facilities. No significant progress on the project has been made so far.

3. Establishment of Underground Metro Rail (Subway) System in the Dhaka City through BOT Basis

Bangladesh Railway proposed this project to be implemented through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. Estimated cost of the project is US$ 898.55 million, with the total concession period of 34 years. It is envisaged that the underground 52 km Metro Rail (Subway) System in Dhaka city will significantly reduce the traffic congestion problem. Presently, major terms and conditions and other dependencies of the project are being discussed and framed. The project was listed on 6 February 2008.

4. Construction of Dhaka Circular Elevated Expressway on BOOT/BOT Basis

Elevated Expressway is to be constructed on BOT/BOOT basis under Bangladesh Bridge Authority. The project was listed on 15 July 2009. The Ministry of Communications (MOC) has received an unsolicited proposal from the private consortium of Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd. and Thai Engineering Consultant Co. Ltd to construct Dhaka Circular Elevated Expressway.

A total of 32.20 km long Elevated Expressway divided into three routes following the existing road network has been proposed to be developed under this project. Cost of the project is US$1.231 million, with 8-year implementation period.

Bangladesh Bridge Authority completed pre-qualification process for this project.

5. Construction of 2nd Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway Project on BBOT Basis

Azimat Consortium, Malaysia proposed this project as an unsolicited proposal on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis. It was listed on 9 July 2006. The project is to be implemented under the supervision of Roads and Highways Department of the Ministry of Communications. Cost of the project is US $896 million, with 5-year implementation period. The project is expected to have significant impact on the country's export-import business by creating a smoother and convenient communication between the port city of Chittagong and the capital.

RHD has carried out pre-qualification for the project. However, no qualified bidder has been found. Azimat Consortium as the original proponent of the project is considered to be the only pre-qualified bidder.

6. 1200T Slipway Project of Marine Workshop on ROT Basis

1200T Slipway project is to be constructed on ROT basis under Chittagong Port Authority. This project was listed on 14 June 2007. Estimated cost of the project is US $ 5 million with an implementation period of 2 years. The slipway having an area of 7 acres of valuable land is located adjacent to the Chittagong Port Cargo operational area. The development of the slipway on ROT basis will facilitate better maintenance of the vessels. The Major Terms and Conditions Committee was formed and the Committee has submitted its report. Since then no significant progress has been made.

7. 100,000 Flats for Lower and Lower-medium Income People in Dhaka city

The idea of the project was proposed by a Joint Venture (JV) Company of BGA and Metro Ikram Sdn Bhd, Malaysia as an unsolicited proposal. It was listed on 9 September 2007 to be implemented under supervision of RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha). Estimated cost of the project is Tk. 85,000 m, with an implementation period of 4 years.

The project will be implemented in Purbachal New Town, extended Uttara (3rd Phase) and Jhilmil Residential Area under RAJUK. The main objective of the project is to provide affordable homes to low and medium income household on the basis of initial deposits and monthly installments of 12 years. No significant progress on this project has been achieved after listing.

8. Operation and Management of the New Mooring Container Terminal on SOT Basis

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is in the process of engaging a private terminal operator through PPP under a Supply-Operate-Transfer (SOT) scheme. It was listed on 19 January 2006. Estimated cost of the project is $165 million. Several parties responded to the request for pre-qualification and four investors have been pre-qualified. The proposed container terminal is expected to be in operation from 2011. Upon the expiration of SOT contract, the private operator will transfer all infrastructure, fixtures, fittings and equipment to CPA.

CPA completed the pre-qualification for the project. Tenders were invited from the pre-qualified bidders. However, later CPA postponed the process and decided to carry out fresh pre-qualification for more pre-qualified bidders.