KHULNA, Nov 30, 2019 (BSS) – The Port of Mongla, the second busiest sea
port of the country, is set to celebrate its 69th founding anniversary
tomorrow with a commitment to boosting its capacity and service tremendously.
To mark the day, an elaborate programme was chalked out including colourful
rally, discussion, cake cutting, doa mahfil and cultural function.
Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Deputy
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar is
expected to lead the programme.
Established in 1950, Mongla port has gone through many struggles and
setbacks, said a top official, adding “But now it is one of the busiest sea
ports of the country”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took a visionary step to revitalize the port
after Awami League came to power in 2009.
While talking to BSS on Thursday, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear
Admiral M Mozammel Haque praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her
decision to turn the port into an active one.
He said Mongla port capacity will be increased by four times within the
next two years. Around 500 acres of land of the port has been readied for the
construction and extension of jetty, yard and bonded warehouse, he said.
He went on saying that the authority has implemented over 50 development
programmes from June 2009 to 2019 to enhance its capacity at a cost of Taka
839.47 crore.
He said, “We are implementing seven ongoing projects at a cost of Tk
1,676.43 crore,” adding that six more development projects at a cost of Taka
369.62 crore awaits government’s approval.
Now, the port is capable to handle 1,000 ships per year which was zero
before 2009, he said, adding that the number of ships coming to this port has
tremendously increased in a decade. In last fiscal year (2018-19), 912 ships
arrived.
After being completed the construction of the Padma Bridge, Mongla port
will be able to send covered vans and cargoes to the capital Dhaka directly,
he said.
“Distance between capital city and Mongla port is shorter than that of
Dhaka and Chattogram. So, use of Mongla port will be overwhelming in the
coming days,” he added.
This port will also be used for regional purposes, he hoped.