BSS, Khulna: Mongla Port, the country's second-largest seaport, is rapidly transforming into a strategic regional transit hub, strengthening connectivity with neighbouring countries while expanding road, river, and rail linkages to the Rajshahi, Rangpur and Barishal divisions.
A Port Reception Facility (PRF) project, completed and awaiting inauguration, is set to significantly improve the port's capacity to manage and remove oil spills from vessels, thereby boosting environmental protection for riverine and marine ecosystems, officials said.
As the economic artery of the south-western region, Mongla Port continues to facilitate the import of key commodities, including food grains, cement clinker, fertilizer, machinery, automobiles, wheat, coal, fuel oil, stone, maize, oilseeds and LPG. The port also supports the export of frozen fish, shrimp, crab, jute and jute goods, clay, tiles, silk textiles and general cargo.
To establish a modern, world-class port management system, efforts are underway to enhance operational capacity through expansion of cargo and container storage areas, procurement of advanced equipment, channel navigability improvements and strengthened safety and security measures.
Speaking to BSS, Md Makruzzaman, Senior Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), said the port surpassed all key operational and financial targets in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Against an annual target of 8.88 million metric tonnes of cargo handling, the port achieved 10.412 million tonnes - an increase of 1.532 million tonnes or 17.25 percent. The target for container handling was 20,000 TEUs, but the port handled 21,456 TEUs, exceeding the target by 1,456 TEUs or 7.28 percent.
The port also exceeded its revenue targets, earning Tk 343.30 crore against the annual projection of Tk 333.87 crore - a growth of Tk 9.46 crore or 2.83 percent. Net profit rose sharply as well, reaching Tk 62.10 crore against the target of Tk 20.46 crore, reflecting a 203.49 percent increase.
Port officials attributed the improved performance to the procurement of modern equipment capable of handling over 24 containers per hour, along with regular dredging that has enhanced navigability and enabled simultaneous handling of five vessels at five jetties.
In the first five months of the current fiscal year, Mongla Port received 356 ships, handled 13,854 TEUs of containers, processed 4,139 imported vehicles, and managed 4.4 million tonnes of import-export cargo.
Makruzzaman noted that Mongla Port holds significant potential for handling transit goods for neighbouring countries, adding that the port will also streamline the movement of goods across the Rajshahi, Rangpur and Barishal divisions via land, water and rail routes.
He said once the capacity expansion project is fully implemented, the port will be able to handle 150 million tonnes of cargo and 35-40 lakh TEUs of containers annually, generating employment opportunities for shipping agents, C&F agents, stevedores and other associated workers.
Increasing container handling capacity by an additional 4 lakh TEUs with modern facilities will further reinforce these projections, he added.
Contacted, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shaheen Rahman said that if the performance-based conservation dredging project for the Pashur Channel is implemented, the port will be able to accommodate over 100 additional vessels annually with a draft of 9.5-10 metres up to the jetty, and 130 more ships from the jetty to the Rampal Power Plant.
Several major projects are currently underway to modernise the port and elevate it to world-class standards, while additional future development initiatives have already been undertaken, he added.
The Mongla Port Authority celebrated its platinum jubilee and the 75th founding anniversary on Monday with festivity and great enthusiasm.
