Some foreign consultants are likely to be engaged to conduct the study for one year in this regard.

The initiative was taken after a review committee headed by Shipping Department Director General Ahsanul Azim had submitted a report at the end of last month, the sources said.

The review committee placed some recommendations for launching massive study and selection of a suitable site for installation of such a costly deep seaport for handling large size vessels that can not enter Chittagong port due to heavy draft.

The review committee in its report suggested some possible sites in Chittagong and Khulna.

The locations are at Moheskhali point of Kutubdia channel, Sonadia channel, Sandwip channel and Akram point near Mongla port.

The port users have been demanding a deep seaport for long as shipping trade expanded. And the authorities took a move in this regard, port sources said.

The authorities concerned initially selected Moheskhali point at Kutubdia channel as a possible site for raising a deep sea port.

Later, Netherlands Economic Institute of the Netherlands launched a study and suggested sites either at Moheskhali or near Patenga channel for installation of the deep seaport, a senior official at Chittagong port said.

But the move was, however, stalled for some years while the present government revived it with launching a fresh study by the high powered review committee, the official said.

Vessels of about 9 meter draft with a capacity of maximum 20,000 tonnes can enter Chittagong port to take berth for loading and unloading both import and export cargo.

Chittagong port harbour master Captain Kamrul Hossain said "We can not allow the vessels of deep draft to enter this port as it is risky. The vessels of higher draft may be agrounded at our channel. So we avoid it".

"Sometimes, we need to go for lightering of vessels at the outer anchorage in case of higher capacity ships," Hossain said.

But most of the cargoes to and from Chittagong port are carried by feeder vessels linked with Singapore and Colombo ports where mother vessels stay to transport them to other destinations abroad, he said.

Port Users Forum(PUF) Chairman Farid Ahmed Chowdhury said "From costing point of view our cargo can be transported under less freight charges if a deep sea port could be installed here".

"The deep seaport can also create transit facilities for our regional and neighbouring countries which can fetch huge revenue for the country," Farid said.

"Even the vessels with a capacity of one lakh ton can be handled at the deep sea port easily," he said. "But it needs thorough study before undertaking the project," he added.