Mongla Port, the country’s second-largest seaport, is fast converting into a vital regional transit centre, enhancing connectivity with neighbouring countries and expanding road, river, and rail connections to the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal districts.
The second-largest seaport in the nation, Mongla Port, is quickly developing into a key regional transit hub, enhancing ties with neighbouring nations and extending rail, road, and river connections to the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal divisions.
A Port Reception Facility (PRF) project, which has been finished and is awaiting inauguration, is expected to considerably increase the port’s capacity to manage and remove oil spills from boats, increasing environmental protection for riverine and marine ecosystems, according to officials.
According to officials, a Port Reception Facility (PRF) project that is finished and awaiting inauguration will greatly increase the port’s ability to control and remove oil spills from ships, improving environmental protection for riverine and marine ecosystems.
The import of essential goods such as food grains, cement clinker, fertiliser, machinery, cars, wheat, coal, fuel oil, stone, maize, oilseeds, and LPG is still made possible via Mongla Port, which serves as the commercial hub of the southwest. Additionally, the port facilitates the export of general cargo, clay, tiles, silk textiles, frozen fish, prawns, crab, jute, and jute-related products.
To develop a contemporary, world-class port management system, efforts are being made to increase operating capacity by expanding cargo and container storage areas, purchasing innovative equipment, improving channel navigability, and strengthening safety and security measures.
In order to create a state-of-the-art port management system, measures are being taken to increase operating capacity by expanding cargo and container storage areas, acquiring cutting-edge technology, improving channel navigability, and fortifying safety and security protocols.
Speaking to BSS, Md Makruzzaman, Senior Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), stated that the port exceeded all key operational and financial benchmarks for the fiscal year 2024-25.
The port exceeded all major operational and financial goals in the fiscal year 2024–2025, according to Md. Makruzzaman, Senior Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), who spoke to BSS.
The port handled 10.412 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, an increase of 1.532 million tonnes, or 17.25 per cent, over the objective of 8.88 million metric tonnes. The port’s container handling target was 20,000 TEUs, but it exceeded it by 1,456 TEUs, or 7.28%.
The port handled 21,456 TEUs, which was 1,456 TEUs (7.28%) more than the 20,000 TEU objective for container handling.
Additionally, the port surpassed its income goals, generating Tk 343.30 crore as opposed to the yearly estimate of Tk 333.87 crore, a 2.83 per cent increase of Tk 9.46 crore. Net profit increased substantially, hitting Tk 62.10 crore against a target of Tk 20.46 crore, or a 203.49 per cent increase.
Additionally, net profit increased significantly, rising 203.49 per cent to Tk 62.10 crore from the objective of Tk 20.46 crore.
Port officials credited the better performance to the acquisition of sophisticated equipment capable of handling more than 24 containers per hour, as well as frequent dredging, which improved navigability and allowed for the simultaneous handling of five boats at five jetties.
In addition to routine dredging that has improved navigability and allowed for the simultaneous processing of five boats at five jetties, port officials credited the improved performance to the acquisition of contemporary equipment capable of handling more than 24 containers per hour.
In the first five months of the current fiscal year, Mongla Port welcomed 356 ships, handled 13,854 TEUs of containers, processed 4,139 imported automobiles, and handled 4.4 million tonnes of import-export cargo.
Mongla Port received 356 ships, processed 4,139 imported cars, handled 13,854 TEUs of containers, and handled 4.4 million tonnes of import-export goods during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
Makruzzaman stated that Mongla Port has tremendous potential for processing transit products for surrounding nations and that the port will also facilitate the transportation of goods across the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal divisions by land, water, and rail lines.
According to Makruzzaman, Mongla Port has a lot of potential for managing transit cargo for nearby nations. The port will also make it easier for commodities to move between the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal divisions via land, sea, and rail.
He stated that after the capacity expansion project is fully realised, the port will be able to handle 150 million tonnes of cargo and 35-40 lakh TEUs of containers per year, creating job opportunities for shipping agents, C&F agents, stevedores, and other connected workers.
According to him, the port would be able to handle 150 million tonnes of cargo and 35–40 lakh TEUs of containers a year after the capacity expansion project is finished, creating jobs for stevedores, shipping agents, C&F agents, and other related people.
He stated that increasing container handling capacity by 4 lakh TEUs with modern facilities will support these estimates even further.
These estimates will be further supported, he said, by adding an extra 4 lakh TEUs of container handling capacity with contemporary amenities.
When contacted, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shaheen Rahman stated that if the performance-based ecological drilling project for the Pashur Channel is implemented, the port will be able to accommodate over 100 additional vessels annually with a draught of 9.5-10 metres up to the jetty, as well as 130 more ships from the jetty to the Rampal Power Plant.
Rear Admiral M Shaheen Rahman, the chairman of the Mongla Port Authority, told reporters that the port will be able to handle more than 100 extra ships a year with a draught of 9.5–10 metres up to the jetty and 130 more ships from the jetty to the Rampal Power Plant if the performance-based conservation dredging project for the Pashur Channel is carried out.
Several big projects are presently ongoing to upgrade the port and bring it up to world-class standards, and other future development initiatives have already been implemented, he noted.
He noted that many future development projects have already been started, adding that other significant projects are now in progress to upgrade the port and bring it up to international standards.
On Monday, the Mongla Port Authority joyfully and enthusiastically commemorated both its 75th founding anniversary and its platinum jubilee.
