The Mongla port, the second largest seaport of the country, earned Tk30,241.68 crore in fiscal year 2022-23, BSS reports citing an official of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA).

In FY23, a total of 827 commercial ships and 99.05 lakh metric tonnes (MT) cargoes arrived at the port while 26,583 TUS container were handled at that time. A total of 13,576 vehicles were imported through this port during the period, the official added.

“Mongla port will turn into a smart port after the completion of a huge number of ongoing development projects,” said Md Makruzzaman, secretary of the MPA.

He said that the ongoing planning and development projects include procurement of suitable vessels for the Mongla port” with an estimated cost of Tk767.25 crore, modern waste and oil removal management system at Mongla port with an estimated cost of Tk401.24 crore, up-gradation of Mongla port with an estimated cost of Tk6,014.62 crore, dredging of 216.09 lakh cubic meters of Pashur Channel in the Inner Bar with a cost of Tk793.73 crore and construction of two incomplete jetties of Mongla port with an estimated cost of Tk418.00 crore.

After completion of these ongoing projects, the Mongla port will be able to handle 8.5 meters draft depths in the channel annually. It will even be possible to handle the ships of 10 meters depth at the Mongla port.

Apart from these, the major future development projects of Mongla Port Authority (2025 to 2040) include collection of modern container and cargo handling equipments, construction of car yard at Jaimanirgol, construction of multi-purpose jetty at Joymanirgol, construction of helipad and hanger with all facilities and purchase of helicopters, procurement of high-capacity rescue craft, construction of container terminal at Joymanirgol (Phase 2), collection of navigational aids, he added.

After resuming in power in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave priority and importance to the development of Mongla Port and started working on the development and modernisation of it. As a result, the port gradually became dynamic, due to which the import of foreign ships, cargo handling vehicles are making records every year, said Talukder Abdul Khaleque, mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) while addressing a function as chief guest on the occasion of 73rd founding anniversary of the Mongla Port on Friday.

“Mongla will be a world-class safe, modern and smart seaport.” he said.

“In the last 15 years, we have completed a massive development projects. As a result of dredging of Pashur River, the Liberian flag ship MV Mana arrived directly to the Mongla Port for the first time in the history of the port with 60,500 metric tonnes of coal, said Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali, chairman of the Mongla Port Authority while delivering his presidential speech at the 73rd founding anniversary of Mongla Port on Friday.