Of the 24 firms, 19 are foreign firms while five are Bangladeshi firms, shipping ministry officials said yesterday.

The ministry floated tender in late May to select an international consulting firm to carry out the feasibility study in association with local consultants within a period of one year.

"Now the authorities will short list the applicants and ask them to submit technical and financial proposals," said a senior shipping ministry official.

Among the foreign firms, three are from the United States, while two each are from Australia, India, Netherlands, Germany and Philippines.

Nepal Chandra Sarker, joint secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, said he is very much encouraged to see the response from two dozens of consulting firms.

Tera International Group of USA, Water Power Consultancy Service of India, HPC Hamburg Port Consultancy of Germany and Star Trading Corporation and Orient Resource Limited of Bangladesh are among the firms submitted proposals for the work.

Sources said the winning consulting firm will recommend the location, facilities and details of the infrastructure and services to be provided, through analysis of the project's technical, social, economic and financial aspects.

It will also examine the potential of using the deep seaport for transshipment.

The consultant is also supposed to estimate costs and investment needed for development of the seaport in different phases -- short term (5-15 years), medium term (15-30 years) and long term (30-50 years).

Sources said special attention will be given to the first phase (short term) that involves construction of a new port in a green field site and identifying components and public-private allocation of costs.

Experts said a deep seaport in the country will help address the chronic congestion problem in the key Chittagong port, which deals with nearly 90 percent of the country's two-way external trade.

Shipping ministry officials said such a port may act as the "Mother Port," for not only Bangladesh but also for the region as a whole. If constructed it may be regarded as the gateway to this region like Hong Kong.