US-based company APR Energy will setup a 300MW mobile power station near the Pangaon container terminal port in Keraniganj. “We've decided to allocate 24 acres of land belonging to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) at Pangaon for APR Energy. A draft is being prepared in this regard and an agreement will be signed soon,” shipping minister Shajahan Khan told reporters after a presentation on the Chittagong port at the Secretariat yesterday.

APR Energy has applied to use the land for five years, he said. US ambassador to Bangladesh, Marcia Bernicat, was present during the presentation. Besides, another US-based company, Ellicot Dredges, will supply equipment to a private company for building 10 dredgers in Bangladesh, said the shipping minister.

Shajahan Khan also sought US support for Bangladesh during the “B” category council member election of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to be held in London on December 1. The US coast guard has worked for security measures at ports across the world under IMO.

As part of the initiative, US coast guard representatives had proposed some security aspects for the development of the Chittagong port during visits to Bangladesh in 2015 and this September.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has worked on these security aspects as per the proposals.

 It made a presentation before the US ambassador on the measures that have been taken so far .

Bernicat expressed her country’s satisfaction over the security measures taken by the CPA.

She also expressed hope that the government would implement all the proposals given by the US coast guard for the phase-wise development of security at the Chittagong port.

The shipping minister also appreciated Washington’s concern over the Rohingya issue.

He expressed optimism that the US government will support Dhaka to resolve the crisis.

 BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq said “Govt will get Tk 5 crore in rent from the US company in the next five years.”

Shipping ministry acting secretary Abdus Samad and CPA chairman Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal were present at the presentation.