Expansion and Modernization of Mongla Port Approved by Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has given the green light to a Taka 4,282.76 crore project for the expansion and modernization of Mongla Port in Bagerhat. The approval was granted during a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson, Sheikh Hasina, at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Out of the 19 projects presented, 13 are brand new initiatives while seven have been revised. Implementation of the project, scheduled for completion by June 2027, will be carried out by the Mongla Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping. A loan of Taka 3,782.36 crore from China on a government-to-government (G-2-G) basis has been secured to fund the project.
The prime objectives of this endeavor are to improve the port facilities at Mongla, enhance its container handling capacity, construct a container terminal, a container delivery yard, and a container yard, and ensure the presence of facilities for handling hazardous cargo. The project will encompass various operations, including general works, land development, pavement, marine structures, and handling equipment.
In addition to the Mongla Port project, several other projects were approved during the meeting. These include the upgrading of district highways in the Khulna Zone, the upgrading and construction of various roads including the Feni (Mohammad Ali Bazar)-Chagalnaiya-Korerhut Road and the construction of the Shuvopur Bridge over the River Feni. The emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, bridges, and culverts affected by the 2022 floods in the Sunamganj and Habiganj road division was also given the go-ahead.
The construction of the Kodomrosum Bridge over the River Sitalakshya, the physical infrastructure development of Gazipur City Corporation, land acquisition for the construction of a sewerage treatment plant in the Reyerbazar area, and the construction of the Majar Mosque on the premises of the Bangladesh Supreme Court were also among the approved projects. Furthermore, the development of transmission infrastructures in the Southern region of Chattogram Division and Kaliakoir Hi-Tech City, as well as the electrification of Hatia Island, Nijhum Island, and Kutubdia Island, were given the green light.
It is worth mentioning that the meeting also approved an extension of the project timeframe without an increase in costs.
The attendance of ministers and state ministers, along with the presence of planning commission members and relevant secretaries, added necessary expertise to the meeting.
This significant approval by the ECNEC marks a major milestone in the development of Mongla Port and the overall infrastructure of Bangladesh. The expansion and modernization efforts will not only improve port facilities but also contribute to the country’s economic growth and enhance its position in the global trade market.
