BSS, Khulna :
The Mongla Port, the country’s second largest seaport, has earned Tk 30,241.68 crore in the financial year 2022-23, an official of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) said Friday.
“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 told BSS.
He said that the ongoing planning and development projects include “Procurement of suitable vessels for the Mongla Port” with an estimated cost of Tk 767.25 crore, ‘Modern waste and oil removal management system at Mongla Port’ with an estimated cost of Tk 401.24 crore, ‘Up-gradation of Mongla Port with an estimated cost of Tk 6,014.62 crore, ‘Dredging of 216.09 lakh cubic meters of Pashur Channel in the Inner Bar’ with a cost of Taka 793.73 crore and ‘Construction of two incomplete Jetties of Mongla Port with an estimated cost of Tk 418.00 crore.
After completion of these ongoing projects, the annual capacity of Mongla Port will be able to handle 8.5 meters draft depths in the channel. It will even be possible to handle 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 modernization 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.