Govt takes mega project for development of Mongla Port

FT ONLINE

The government has taken a mega project for the development of Mongla Port, the second largest sea port of the country.

The mega project includes the construction of an economic zone near the port and building railway lines from Mongla to Kolkata in India via Nepal and Bhutan and necessary link roads for enhancing regional connectivity.

Mongla Port has already turned into a profitable and busy port with enhanced foreign ship anchoring, cargo handling and exports and imports in the last nine years as the present government implemented various development projects after assuming office in 2009, according to sources.

Chairman of Mongla Port Authority (MPA) Commodore AKM Faruk Hasan said development works involving over Taka 10,000 crore have been carried out in the last nine and a half years. Work on Mongla Economic Zone is nearing completion.

“We have taken a mega development project recently involving around Taka 6,500 crore. The Indian government will provide Taka 6,256 crore from the third Line of Credit (LoC) in the upcoming fiscal year to implement the project,” he added.

The Mongla Port would be enough to run a huge business after completion of the mega project. After the opening of the Padma Bridge, activities of the port will increase further, he said.

The purpose of the project is to provide modern facilities to the port users, he added.

Faruk said, the MPA will send the final project proposal to the shipping Ministry on Sunday or Monday next.

Sources said, there will be around 12 components under the project. Those are the construction of container terminal jetty 1 and 2,construction of container handling yard, container delivery yard, shade, security wall automation and other infrastructures, including extension of the port, service vessel jetty shade and office.

The use of Mongla Port is expected to be increased manifold following the construction of the Padma Bridge along with rail links, establishment of railway tracks from Khulna to Mongla and the construction of Khan Jahan Ali Airport, 1320 MW coal fired power plant at Rampal and establishment of special economic zone near the port area.

Located near the bank of the Pashur river, the Mongla Economic Zone is being constructed on 205 acres of land near the port.

Aiming to encourage rapid economic development and generate more employment opportunities, the government has launched a project to establish economic zones in 10 different areas in the country.

In line with the “Vision-2021” envisaged by the government, the project is being implemented to attract foreign companies to develop and operate economic zones as well as ensure balanced development of every region of the country.

Chairman of MPA Commodore Faruk said after the completion of Mongla Economic Zone, at least 25 thousand jobs will be created here.