TDS Desk:

A project titled “Pashur Channel Maintenance Dredging” has begun at Mongla port to maintain navigability of the channel.

Approved during an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting last week, this project is estimated to cost Tk1,538.19 crore.

The project taken by the Mongla Port Authority follows the completion of dredging at the Outer Bar of the Pashur Channel, with ongoing work at the Inner Bar.

Upon completion, ships with drafts of 9.5 to 10 metres will be able to dock directly at Mongla Port’s jetties.

The initiative aims to sustain the port’s channel depth and ensure its smooth operation, officials said.

OVERCOMING PAST CHALLENGES

Mongla Port faced severe navigability issues between 2002 and 2007 due to a lack of dredging in the Outer and Inner Bar channels.

The port became nearly inoperative due to the constraints, with a sharp decline in ship arrivals.

After completing a Tk712 crore Outer Bar dredging project in 2020, the port now accommodates ships with 9-metre drafts.

Later the port authority started dredging the Inner Bar, spanning 23 kilometres from Joymonirgol to the port jetties.

Despite initial projections to complete the Tk793.72 crore project by June 2022, delays increased costs to Tk992 crore.

NEW MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT

The newly approved maintenance dredging project for Pashur Channel will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2029.

Of the total project cost, Tk1,384.37 crore will come from the government, with the remaining Tk153.82 crore funded by Mongla Port Authority.

Besides, the “Procurement of Supporting Vessels for Mongla Port (1st Revised)” project will now cost Tk936.56 crore, up from Tk767.25 crore, and is set to be completed by June 2025.

BOOSTING PORT CAPACITY

Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority, said there is no alternative of regular dredging to sustain the country’s second-largest seaport.

“The port has proven its growing significance by facilitating key national projects like Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Rampal Power Plant, and Metro Rail,” he said.

With ongoing and planned projects, Mongla Port aims to overcome navigability challenges, enhance its operational efficiency, and further contribute to the economic growth of Bangladesh’s southwestern region.

“We are implementing a comprehensive master plan to transform Mongla Port into a modern and dynamic facility capable of handling future demands,” he said.