In a big leap forward, the Payra Port Authority yesterday signed a deal with a Belgium-based company to start capital dredging of the port's main channel to facilitate entry of large ships that cannot berth now at Chittagong and Mongla ports.

The Payra Port Authority (PPA) under the shipping ministry yesterday signed the first memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Belgian company Jan De Nul for capital dredging and ongoing maintenance dredging to develop the Payra Deep-sea Port.