Khulna Correspondent:

The Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport located in Bagerhat district, is undergoing significant expansion to boost its cargo handling capacity.

This expansion aims to significantly enhance the port’s cargo handling capacity, especially following improved connectivity due to the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, which directly links the capital city.

The construction of six additional jetties is central to this expansion. Notably, Jetties No. 3 and 4 have reached 62% completion, with an investment of Tk 800 crore.

Proposals for Jetties No. 1 and 2 are pending approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), while plans for Jetties No. 11 and 12 are underway.

Commodore Shafiqul Islam Sarker, Director of the Jetty Construction Project and Member (Harbor and Marine), said that once operational, these jetties will transform the port into a major economic hub for the country.

To facilitate the movement of foreign vessels, 69 navigation buoys have been installed along the port channel. Currently, the port can accommodate 47 ships simultaneously across its jetties, mooring buoys, and anchorages.

The port is equipped with transit sheds, warehouses, container yards, 161 refrigerated plug points for cold storage, car parking yards and 136 modern equipment of handling, including 32 auxiliary tugboats.

The inauguration of the Padma Bridge has significantly increased activities at the port, as it is now a key transportation route for products from Bangladesh’s southwestern region, as well as from neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and India’s border areas.

This surge in activity has necessitated the port’s expansion to manage the growing demand.

Local businessmen, such as Sheikh Faridul Islam and Mashiur Rahman, hope that the new jetties will enhance ship movement and cargo handling, thereby reducing congestion during loading and unloading.

This development is expected to economically benefit the port and streamline import and export processes for businesses.

The port authorities recognise the need for comprehensive modernization, including workforce enhancements, to alleviate pressure on the Chittagong port. Commodore Shafiqul Islam Sarker noted that the construction of Jetties No. 3 and 4 is projected to be completed within the next year and a half. Since its inception, the port has constructed five jetties for cargo handling. The addition of six new jetties will not only increase capacity but also reduce transportation costs in the southwestern region, bolstering the port’s international competitiveness.

Port Chairman Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman highlighted that the port is currently managing four active projects. Upon completion of dredging in the inner bar of the Pashur Channel, the port’s jetties will be capable of handling ships with drafts up to 10 meters.

The ‘Mongla Port Upgradation Project’ aims to further enhance the port’s capacity, enabling it to handle 1.5 million tonnes of cargo and 400,000 TEUs of containers annually. The completion of the two ongoing jetties is expected to increase the port’s container handling capacity by an additional 200,000 TEUs per year.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the port experienced a 2.30% increase in commercial ship arrivals, a 9.72% rise in cargo transportation, a 16.78% uptick in container transportation, and a 13% increase in car imports compared to the previous fiscal year.