PM Tarique Rahman Inspects Mongla Port, Orders Higher Capacity and Faster Cargo Release

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inspected Mongla Port's jetty, container yard, port expansion project and other important infrastructure. On Thursday (22 October) afternoon he toured the port's installations, observed its ongoing activities and the progress of development projects, and gave officials necessary directions to raise the port's capacity.

During the inspection, the prime minister directed the concerned officials to increase the port's capacity, expand international trade, ensure speedy release of cargo, and make modernisation work more dynamic. Stakeholders consider these directions significant for the government's trade-expansion plans centred on Mongla, the country's second seaport.

Earlier, at around 3:30pm, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reached the Mongla Port jetty area by road from the Digraj naval base. BNP leaders and activists present at the port's main gate welcomed him, and he got out of his car to exchange greetings with them.

He then entered the port and spent about 50 minutes inspecting various installations and activities, including the port expansion project, jetty facilities, the container yard, cargo handling operations and storage arrangements, while observing the existing infrastructure and the progress of ongoing development work. Senior officials of the Mongla Port Authority and representatives of the shipping ministry were with him during the inspection.

After the port inspection, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also visited the proposed economic zone of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA). There he discussed with the concerned officials the prospects for industrialisation in the southern region, attracting domestic and foreign investment, and creating employment, and enquired about the progress of ongoing and proposed development projects in the area.

The day-long tour had begun on a wider canvas. In the morning, Tarique Rahman inspected the Sundarbans and the coastal area of Khulna by helicopter. He then travelled by waterway from the Nalian area of Dacope upazila in Khulna towards Mongla, reaching the navy's BNS Mongla base a little before 1pm. After a lunch break there, the prime minister attended a meeting held in the base's wardroom.

After finishing the day's programme, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Mongla by helicopter for Dhaka after 5pm.

Mongla Port is the main gateway for trade in the country's southern region. A large share of imports and exports for the Khulna, Barisal and Rajshahi regions is meant to move through this port, and after the opening of the Padma Bridge its road connection with Dhaka has become easier. Traders therefore expect that raising the port's capacity will both ease pressure on Chattogram Port and accelerate industrialisation in the south.

Speedy cargo release featured prominently in the prime minister's directions. Vessel and container congestion at the port raises traders' costs and affects the prices of imported goods. Port users hope that congestion will fall if the modernisation and expansion work gains pace.

Local expectations around the proposed economic zone are also high. If factories are set up in Mongla, employment will grow in Bagerhat, Khulna and nearby districts and the port-centred economy will strengthen further — that is the hope heard locally, and the prime minister's tour included discussions on exactly those prospects.

All in all, the prime minister's Mongla tour was both an on-the-ground review of the port's operations and a set of directions for the southern region's economic future. Attention will now be on how quickly and effectively the port authority and the concerned ministry act on his directions.