Maheshkhali–Matarbari to emerge as a new city: CA

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that Maheshkhali–Matarbari will give birth to a new city, with the area serving as far more than just a deep-sea port.

A delegation from the newly formed Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA), led by its Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, met with the chief adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday afternoon.

MIDA members Commodore Tanzim Faruq and Md Sarwar Alam were present, along with SDG Chief Coordinator Lamia Morshed and Chief Adviser’s Office Secretary Md Saifullah Panna.

During the meeting, MIDA’s chairman delivered a presentation on the Maheshkhali–Matarbari development project and outlined the authority’s four-month action plan.

 

He stated that the massive project will be implemented in three phases: 2025–2030, 2030–2045, and 2045–2055.

Once completed, the project is expected to create direct and indirect employment for around 2.5 million people and contribute approximately $ 150 billion to Bangladesh’s GDP.

Emphasising a broader vision, Professor Yunus said, “This is not just about building a deep-sea port. We must work with the vision of creating a blue economy. The area should not merely function as a facilitating zone — it will give rise to an entirely new city. From there, we will establish international connectivity, with the ocean serving as our highway to the world.”

The chief adviser called for in-depth research on ocean resources and advocated for the establishment of an international-standard training facility in Maheshkhali.

He stressed the importance of drawing on global expertise when necessary and building academic institutions focused on ocean economy research.

He also recommended organising international conferences to explore this emerging field.

“We have never ventured into the ocean world, nor have we seriously studied it. We lack research, findings, and even basic institutional capacity. We must identify existing global research relevant to our needs, conduct our own studies, and build academic frameworks to support them,” Professor Yunus said.

Environmental conservation featured prominently in the discussions, with plans for an eco-tourism park in the Maheshkhali region.

The chief adviser underscored the need to assess the current state of the area’s forests and develop a long-term strategy for their preservation and restoration.