Khulna: Mongla Port, once its nose was dived into uncertainty, has revived like a sphinx in the economic activities within one year due to efficient management.
As the government has paid due attention, export-import activities have increased manifold and the second sea port of the country has added an extra vigor to country’s economy.
Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is building an economic zone at Mongla with the aim of increasing investment and enhancing export earnings that created a new hope for the people of this region.
Port Users Association secretary general Advocate Saiful Islam told Banglanews that the present government has been implementing several infrastructural development projects to run the port smoothly.
He further said that an economic zone will be built up targeting the proposed Padma Bridge and hope that the economic scenario would soon be changed with the opportunity of employment.
According to a source of the port, the incumbent government has taken up a total of 12 development projects costing Taka 552 crore during its two tenures. Of those, most of the projects are complete now.
It is further learnt from the sources that under these projects, 2 straddle carriers, 6 forklifts, 2 terminal tractors and 2 container trailers have been procured for quick handling of goods in the port.
Moreover, the depth of channel has been enhanced to 7.5 meters from 5.5 meters through capital dredging to increase the navigability.
For safer movement of the ships, necessary equipments including 62 different lighted buoys, 2 rotating beacons and 6 GRP light towers have been set up. A suction dredger is working whole time to keep the navigability.
Meanwhile, ten kilometers of roads have been improved for movement of vehicles.
Two new yards, along with connecting roads, have been set up to store the imported cars. A modern container yard has been set up to preserve the containers. A solar panel has also been set up to produce 80 kilowatts electricity.
Mongla Port Authority with its own finance has set up two pontoons, two gangways, and eight mooring buoys in Pashur Channel, five forklifts with the capacity of handling 3 tons and one mobile crane with the capacity of handling 30 tons.
The new economic zone will be set up on 205-acre of land with short term (1-2 years), mid-term (1-3 years) and long-term (1-5 years) schemes to make the zone as well the port economically vibrant.
Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Reazuddin Ahmed told Banglanews that because of the infrastructural improvement of this port, Nepal, Bhutan and India have shown their interests to use this port.
During his visit to Bangladesh on last June 6, India PM Norendra Modi has signed a MoU and signings of the same agreement by Nepal and Bhutan are under process.
He further said that setting up of an economic zone, a coal-based thermal power station at Rampal, Khan Jahan Ali Airport construction, Khulna-Mongla Rail connection and the implementation of Padma Brdige by 2018 will definitely open a new economic vista in this area.
The gradual increase of these port investments at EPZ is making this area industrialized and economically viable.
Member of Parliament of Bagerhat-3 (Rampal-Mongla) Talukdar Abdul Khaleque told Banglanews that Taka 552 crores have been spent for implementing 12 projects making the port attractive to the importers during its tenure of the present government.
He hoped that with completion of Khulna-Mongla rail connection, construction of Khan Jahan Ali Airport and after the completion of long-cherished dream Padma bridge, the Mongla port will be full of life and vigor.
BDST: 1550 HRS, JULY 04, 2015
Shahjahan/RR/SMS
