PM’s Mongla Port visit raises hopes for regional development

KHULNA, Oct 21: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mongla Port, Dacope Upazila of Khulna and the Sundarban on Thursday, raising hopes among local business people and industrial entrepreneurs for solutions to long-standing problems and faster industrial development in south-western Bangladesh.

Tarique Rahman is expected to inspect port jetty operations and the economic zone adjacent to the port. He is also scheduled to fly by helicopter over parts of the Sundarban and areas along the port channel.

The visit will be his first to Mongla Port, Dacope and the Sundarban since the BNP formed the government under his leadership after 17 years.

Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change and MP for Bagerhat-3 Constituency, said the prime minister would inspect port facilities and the adjacent economic zone.

He said the government planned to attract Chinese investment, build a bridge over the Mongla River and upgrade the Mongla-Khulna road to six lanes. The initiatives also aim to use transit facilities to develop the port into a major economic and logistics hub.

Mosharraf Hossain, President of the Mongla Clearing and Forwarding Association, called for uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the Mongla Export Processing Zone and nearby industrial areas to reduce production costs and improve export competitiveness.

He also urged the government to ensure regular dredging to maintain the navigability of the Mongla River and port channel and improve rail and road links to transport goods to Dhaka and other parts of the country at lower costs.

Captain Rafiqul Islam, Chairman of the Mongla Shipping Agents Association, said vessel arrivals at the port’s jetty had declined. He called for a lasting solution to channel dredging, construction of an airport in Rampal and measures to eliminate irregularities that delay import and export operations.

Mohammad Khorshed Alam, a businessman associated with the port, said Mongla remained far behind Chattogram Port in import and export trade despite its considerable capacity. He urged the government to end harassment in port operations and turn its pledges to create an investment-friendly environment into action.

Although no official party programme has been announced for the visit, BNP supporters have held processions in Bagerhat District, Dacope and nearby areas.

Abdul Mannan Howlader, President of Mongla Upazila BNP, said local party units had organised rallies and processions to mark the visit. He welcomed the prime minister’s decision to include Mongla Port in his itinerary.

Law enforcement agencies have put in place a four-tier security arrangement ahead of Thursday’s visit.