Chittagong Port, widely regarded as the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy, handles nearly 90 per cent of the country’s foreign trade. Rising import and export volumes, growing vessel congestion, limited navigability, and operational constraints have steadily strained the port’s capacity. Against this backdrop, the planned expansion of Chittagong Port at Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar is emerging as a new opportunity. Developed on long-neglected coastal fallow lands, the initiative is increasingly seen as a potential game changer for Bangladesh’s maritime economy.
In Bangladesh, seaports operate primarily as commercial and industrial ports. As the principal seaport, Chittagong Port functions mainly as a service-oriented institution, facilitating the efficient loading and unloading of shipborne cargo, including containers, containerised goods, and general cargo. Maintaining navigability through channel management, dredging, and conservation remains central to this role, a responsibility the Chittagong Port Authority has carried out since 1884.
Bangladesh is a vast deltaic region formed over a basaltic seabed around 22 million years ago through continuous sediment deposition. Much of the land consists of river-borne alluvial soil resting on an approximately 18-kilometre-thick sedimentary layer. As a result, rivers and channels are prone to frequent siltation, reducing navigability and making regular dredging indispensable to ensure uninterrupted maritime access to Chittagong Port.
Port management and land use present globally recognised challenges. A 1983 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report on port land use noted that ports face constant pressure from competing land demands arising from operational changes and external urban and economic forces. The report classified port land needs into access and marshalling areas, supply and transfer services, commercial and user services, and port-based industries, underscoring the need for continuous planning updates and strategic infrastructure decisions.
Chittagong Port reflects these pressures. To support urban development and traffic decongestion, the Port Authority has provided no-objection clearance for more than 100 acres of port land for road expansion by the Chattogram City Corporation. Hundreds of additional acres have been leased for port-supporting industries, dry docks, ship repair and shipbuilding, and off-dock facilities. Revenue from these activities is reinvested in channel management, dredging, and conservation, forming a key pillar of long-term sustainability.
Under a broader development vision for Moheshkhali, around 34,000 acres of land under the Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority are planned for development into four primary hubs and two supporting hubs. The primary hubs include port and logistics, industrial and manufacturing, power and energy, and fisheries harvesting, processing, and marketing. Supporting hubs are intended to facilitate modern townships and associated amenities.
Experts say this land-use strategy and port expansion could transform Chittagong Port from a service-focused institution into an integrated logistics and industrial ecosystem, adding a new dimension to maritime trade, industrialisation, and Bangladesh’s blue economy.
Under a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and the Chittagong Port Authority, and in line with a Japan International Cooperation Agency-prepared and government-approved land-use plan, a two-phase deep sea port expansion is planned on about 1,762 acres in the Dhalghata area of Moheshkhali. Proximity to deep sea waters makes the site suitable for large vessels, with modern terminals, jetties, container yards, and advanced logistics facilities planned.
One of Chittagong Port’s main constraints remains its dependence on the navigability and tidal behaviour of the Karnaphuli River. As a fast-flowing tidal river, container handling is limited to specific periods of the day, restricting mother vessel movements, increasing clearance times, and raising costs for traders, which weakens export competitiveness.
Expansion at Moheshkhali is expected to ease these constraints. Round-the-clock container handling would be possible, and mother vessels with drafts of up to 18 metres could berth directly at the basin. This would reduce reliance on transshipment and significantly cut transport time and costs.
Beyond national economic gains, the project is expected to improve local livelihoods. In the first phase of stage one, 306 acres were acquired, affecting 462 families now included in resettlement and human resource development programmes. One member from each family has received livelihood-oriented, port-supporting training, while contractors are prioritising trained local recruitment.
Port operations are also expected to generate employment in port management, transport, logistics support, warehousing, and related services, contributing to positive socio-economic change in Moheshkhali and surrounding areas.
Experts further argue that the Moheshkhali expansion could become a milestone in realising Bangladesh’s blue economy, which focuses on sustainable ocean resource use for growth, jobs, and livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems. Bangladesh’s coastline and strategic location offer strong potential. United Nations estimates value the global blue economy at about $2.5 trillion annually, employing more than 600 million people worldwide, with global exports reaching roughly $2.2 trillion in 2023.
The deep sea port is also expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in South and Southeast Asian trade. It could emerge as a logistics hub for trade with China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN countries, while positioning Bangladesh as a transit point for India’s northeastern region and neighbouring states.
As part of the first phase, a modern jetty of around 780 metres is planned with an annual handling capacity of 80,000 containers. Designed to accommodate multiple vessels, the facility will feature modern cargo-handling equipment, automated systems, and advanced security infrastructure in line with international standards. This is expected to ease pressure on Chittagong Port and boost the country’s import-export activities.
Overall, the expansion of Chittagong Port on Moheshkhali’s coastal fallow lands represents a critical step in Bangladesh’s economic transformation. By linking trade, employment, industrial growth, and the blue economy, the project is set to reshape the country’s maritime future and long-term development path.
The author is an Assistant Estate Manager at Chittagong Port Authority. He is reachable at the email address: [email protected]
