DHAKA, Aug. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Bangladesh's port city Chittagong has been selected as "Potential Pilot City" in Asia by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) under its "Sustainable Urban Integrated Transport" project.

    Besides Chittagong, four other Asian and Latin American cities have been brought under the program as part of developing transport and environment management system at city level in developing countries, local daily The New Nation reported on Saturday.

    UNEP will implement the project in the five cities at a cost of 4.4 million US dollars.

    The first phase work of the project will be implemented for development of transport system of the Chittagong city, maintaining its socio-economic advancement and environment status as well, UNEP Program Officer Kamala Ernest was quoted by the daily as saying.

    The work will be completed within four years from the date of its beginning, while the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) will execute the project as a local party.

    Meanwhile, the Public Works Ministry has given its consent to the CDA. The work will start on Aug. 26 after the signing of a letter of agreement between the UNEP and CDA, the report said.

    Located in the south-eastern portion of the country near Myanmar, Chittagong is the largest sea port of the country, a coveted post which it has held for thousands of years.

    Chittagong is the main route for almost all of Bangladesh's import and export, and thus generates a huge amount of revenue each year, attracting many investors from home and abroad. Enditem