The government is going to undertake a major project to set up five jetties and necessary infrastructure in the economic zones in the country's south-eastern part to ensure the comfortable and safe movement of people and landing facilities and boost tourism.

The shipping ministry has taken up the project, which may be placed at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council today.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will implement the project, in cooperation with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority.

The project will be completed by June 2024.

The government will provide the fund and the BIWTA will have to acquire 25.86 acres, according to documents of the planning ministry.

The Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation, an expert team of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, has prepared the designs of the jetties and carried out a feasibility study.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority will implement the project, in cooperation with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority

The main objective of the project is to set up five jetties and other facilities in the south-eastern part, including Mirsarai and Sandwip parts of Chattogram and Sonadia and Teknaf (Sabrang and Jaliar island) parts of Cox's Bazar.

The jetties will provide infrastructure to carry the increasing volume of products and items for the local residents in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and contribute to economic development, said Commodore Golam Sadeq, chairman of the BIWTA.

"The jetties will help boost tourism and attract foreign and domestic tourists via modern landing facilities," he said, adding that the jetties will support the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar.

The industrial city consists of three economic zones: Mirsarai, Feni, and Sitakundu.

Md Mohidul Islam, chief engineer (civil) of the BIWTA, said: "If the project is okayed, we will try to complete it within the deadline."

According to the planning ministry's document, a jetty will be built in the Jaliar Dwip Island, which is located in the middle of the Naf river where the Naf Tourism Park is currently being built. The park will have all the modern tourist facilities.

The jetty will ensure the landing facilities for travellers as well, it said.

Sonadia, which is 7 kilometres far from Cox's Bazar, is a popular place for making dried fish. A jetty with landing facilities is needed to ensure smooth communication for prospective travellers, said the documents.

The Mirsarai Economic Zone, which is located on the bank of Sandwip channel, will be the industrial hub where hundreds of thousands of workers will be employed.

Local farmers and small businessmen will be able to transport their products within a short time and at lower costs, it said.

Under the project, the BIWTA will dredge 3.95 lakh cubic metres of area for the safe berthing of water vessels.

It will also construct 75,481 square feet in jetty spaces, 8,485 square metres of parking yards, 24,000 square metres of the access road, and 3,830 square metres of the embankment to save the river banks.

The BIWTA will build a 23,488-square-metre port complex as well.