BanglaPress Desk: Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is set to visit Mongla Port for the second time since assuming office. In preparation for his visit tomorrow, Thursday (November 5), several infrastructure development initiatives have been undertaken at the port, including the construction of two new container jetties. During the visit, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for this project.
According to relevant officials, the implementation of this project will enhance Mongla Port’s capacity for cargo handling and container transport, creating new prospects for the country’s import-export trade.
Previously, the Prime Minister visited Mongla Port and the Sundarbans on October 22.
Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa, Chairman of the Mongla Port Authority, stated that the Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at the port at 10:00 AM on Thursday.
He will then lay the foundation stone for the construction of two new container jetties and the development of ancillary facilities, as part of a broader project to expand and upgrade the port’s infrastructure.
The Port Chairman noted that the construction work will commence following the laying of the foundation stone by the Prime Minister.
An agreement for the implementation of this project was signed between Bangladesh and China on October 10. The total cost of the project is estimated at 4,068 crore BDT, with the Government of Bangladesh contributing 475 crore BDT and China providing the remaining 3,593 crore BDT.
The project includes the construction of a 368-meter-long container terminal and yard, along with facilities for handling dangerous cargo. The new container yard will be equipped with 49 pieces of machinery, enabling the handling of more than 30 containers per hour. Once completed, Mongla Port will achieve an annual handling capacity of 400,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units).
Additionally, in the presence of the Prime Minister, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed at the port’s Jetty No. 9 between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the China Railway Construction Corporation. On Thursday morning, following her scheduled engagements at Mongla Port, the Prime Minister will travel by road to Bagerhat. There, she will visit the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali. Subsequently, she will proceed to Khulna to attend the inauguration ceremony of ‘Notun Kuri Season-2’. After concluding these programs, the Prime Minister will return to Dhaka.
Stakeholders anticipate that the implementation of this project will not only enhance the container handling capacity of Mongla Port but also provide a fresh impetus to import-export trade and rail-based freight transport in the country’s southwestern region.
BP/TI
