The ministry backed Sonadia Island after Japanese consultancy firm Pacific Consultants International (PCI) recommended the island as the most suitable site.

Eight other possible sites PCI surveyed were Potenga, Middle Island, Kutubdia Point, Kutubdia Channel, Moheshkhali Channel, Elephant Point, Saint Martins Island and Akram Point.

If Sonadia receives the final approval from the government, the consultancy committee will start second phase of study. The second phase is to be completed within four weeks of the government approval.

PCI was appointed by the government in August, 2006.

In 2004, the then four-party alliance government took the initiative for setting up a deep-sea port at a feasible location in the country.

The shipping ministry believes that a seaport in Bangladesh has the potential to turn into a regional hub because of its geographic location. This port might attract many Asian and Saarc nations including landlocked nations such as Nepal, Bhutan, several states of India, southern parts of China and Myanmar for their cargo shipment needs.