Payra Port to complete major upgradation by July 2026

New jetty, transshipment capacity, and green energy focus to make it a strategic trade hub

Bangladesh’s third-largest seaport, Payra Port, is on track to complete a significant infrastructure upgrade by July 2026, according to an announcement by the Payra Port Authority (PPA) today.

The upgrade, part of a long-term master plan, will transform the port into a modern transshipment hub capable of handling up to 15 commercial vessels simultaneously, said Commodore Mohammad Abdul Kader, PPA Member (Engineering & Development), during a seminar in Kuakata.

Key infrastructure under development includes:

·         A 650-metre jetty capable of berthing container vessels carrying 3,000–3,500 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units)

·         Navigational channels suitable for Panamax vessels (up to 225m in length and 32m in width)

·         A 325,000 square meter backup yard and a 10,000 square meter container freight station

Additional features will offer seamless river connectivity with Dhaka and other regions, along with anchorage and parking facilities at 20–30% lower tariffs than other domestic ports.

The master plan was presented at the seminar by a joint team from Dutch consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). It follows a tripartite agreement signed in February 2019 among the PPA, the Ministry of Shipping, and the project team. Originally planned to be completed in 18 months at a cost of Tk 125 crore, the project faced delays due to the pandemic and political uncertainties.

Speaking at the event, Shipping, Labour, and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retired) M Sakhawat Hossain stressed the port’s focus on sustainability. “Unlike our other ports, Payra will be internationally connected and avoid coal-based power, opting instead for renewable energy solutions,” he said. He called on investors to establish small-scale industries around the port, highlighting the need for strong connectivity via road, rail, and waterways to enhance its long-term profitability. “No port becomes profitable overnight,” he noted. “But with strategic planning, Payra can emerge as a sustainable trade hub.”

Currently, 93% of Bangladesh’s foreign trade is handled through Chattogram Port, underscoring the urgent need to diversify port capacity and reduce dependency on a single gateway.