Thaindian News

Dhaka, April 4 (IANS) Britain based steel tycoon L.N. Mittal is exploring a $500 million investment in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s principal port city, to develop a coastal township along the Bay of Bengal, which could house residential and industrial blocks besides having its own airstrip and shallow port. Confirming Mittal’s offer, Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) chairman Shah Muhammad Akhteruddin said: “The authority is prepared to extend its support to Mittal’s plans.”

A senior representative of Mittal Steel, Rakesh Biship, has already visited the potential site in March.

“A delegation is scheduled this month again to study the site in greater detail,” another CDA official said.

Guidelines for developing such townships are provided in the Chittagong Metropolitan Master Plan (CMMP). The investment in such projects would not be less than $500 million, CDA officials said.

A composite township can be developed conforming to the coastal belt development guidelines of the CMPP along the coast stretching from Patenga to Kumira in Sitakunda district.

A huge strip of naturally reclaimed land already exists along the coast to the west of the port city. A 12 km long and one kilometre wide township overlooking the sea could be developed there reclaiming more land with the help of artificial blocks, said CDA officials.

The coastal township could accommodate waterfront residential blocks, environment-friendly industries, industrial blocks, an airstrip, a shallow port besides hotel and cruising facilities.

The authority would invite global investments in townships that create employment opportunities, said Akhteruddin.

The Mittal group has been scouting for investment opportunities in Bangladesh for more than a year now, The Daily Star newspaper said Friday.