CHATTOGRAM, Oct 16, 2018 (BSS) – The much-awaited capital dredging in the Karnaphuli river, the life line of country’s premier port Chattogram, resumed today after five years. A company named ‘E-Engineering Limited’, under the supervision of Bangladesh Navy is carrying out the dredging at a cost of Taka 242 crore.
Funded by Chattogram Port Authority (CPA), the company will dredge 42 lakh cubic feet mud with a view to removing siltation and keeping navigational operation smooth in the river.
Earlier, a Malaysian Maritime and Dredging Corporation (MMDC) left the capital dredging work after partially completing at a cost of Taka 229 crore 54 lakh 39.
Port sources said E Engineering Limited as per agreement would complete the dredging works within the next four years.
Arifur Rahman, Chief Hydrographer Commander of Chattogram Port, said an agreement between Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and Bangladesh Navy was signed recently for massive dredging works of the Karnaphuli and construction of a jetty at Chattogram port.
He said the extended capital dredging project will be carried out a total of 2.5 kilometre area from Sadarghat jetty to Karnaphuli Bridge, near Bakalia.
“Protection of the two sides of the river Karnaphuli, construction of a marine drive and 400 metre long lighterage jetty are also included in the dredging works,” he added.
Saiful Islam, director of E Engineering, told BSS that two dredgers Mikhail-1 and Safir-1 were imported from Holland at a cost of Taka130 crore for the dredging .