Capital dredging at Payra port began today just after the inauguration of the project by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail, chairman of the Payra Port Authority.

The dredging at the port's Ramnabad Channel will create a 75-km-long, around 125-metre-wide and 10.5-metre-deep channel, through which ships carrying 40,000 tonnes of cargo or 3,000 containers can easily navigate.

The capital dredging channel will cost approximately Tk 4,950 crore and the dredging will be done by Belgium-based dredging company-Jan de Null.

The premier inaugurated a number of development projects for Payra port worth Tk 11,072 crore through a virtual video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka.

These development projects include the port's capital dredging, inauguration of eight ships and the laying of the foundation stone of the first terminal and the construction of a six-lane connecting road and a bridge on Andharmanik river.

The Payra Port Authority (PPA) is implementing these projects with its own funding.

The premier inaugurated Payra seaport on November 19 in 2013 and so far 260 sea-going vessels have docked at the port, which helped the port earn about Tk 548 crore in revenue.

State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Shipping Secretary Mostafa Kamal and Payara Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail also spoke at the inauguration event held at the Payra port site in Patuakhali.

At the event, a documentary film on Payra port and development projects was shown.

The ships and vessels constructed at a cost of Tk 209.74 crore for the Payra seaport will assist the port authorities in monitoring the arrival and departure of foreign vessels and maintaining the channel.