Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally inaugurated the operational activities of the country's third seaport "Payra" in Patuakhali district, some 204 km south of capital Dhaka.

Hasina inaugurated the port activities through a video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban in capital Dhaka on Saturday.

The operational activities of the seaport began through unloading goods from a first commercial ship "MV-Fortune Bird" which arrived at the port from China with 53,000 metric tons of stones for the country's largest Padma bridge project.

The port, which is being developed on an area of nearly 6,000 acres of land, will offer specific services until the full-fledged functions commence in 2018.

During the initial period, ships can unload goods at the outer anchorage while lighterages will carry those to the different parts of the country.

Hasina laid the foundation stone of the country's third seaport on Nov. 19, 2013.

The seaport is expected to boost the economy in southern Bangladesh districts, along with the Padma bridge.

In December last year, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the main works of the country's largest Padma Bridge project by unveiling its foundation plaque.

She had also unveiled the plaque of the river training works, the second most costly component of the 3-billion-U.S. dollar project conducted by one of the largest international companies, Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

Experts say the bridge, when it comes into operation in 2018, will ease pressure on the country's premier seaport in Chittagong, 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, as it will bolster the second largest Mongla seaport in Bagerhat district, 178 km southwest of the capital city.

In June 2014, the Bangladeshi government awarded China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited a 1.55-billion-U.S. dollar contract to build core structure of the Padma Bridge project which is to be completed in four years.

The 25-meter-wide and 10-km-long bridge will be built over Padma River, one of the three major rivers in Bangladesh.

About 6.15 km of the bridge is being built over the river while the remaining part on both banks.

Apart from connecting nearly 30 million people in Bangladesh's southwest region to the rest of the country, the bridge will enhance regional trade and collaboration along the Asian highway No. 1 and the Trans-Asian railway network.

Obaidul Quader, Bangladesh's road transport and bridges minister, last week said 37 percent of the Padma bridge works have been done.

The first span will be put on the bridge pillars by the end of the year, he said.

Source : XINHUA