PM to open Tk4,068cr Mongla Modernisation Project today

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will lay the foundation stone of a Tk 4,068.23 crore project to expand and modernise Mongla Port, the country's second-largest seaport, during a visit to Khulna and Bagerhat today (November 5).

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Mongla Port by helicopter at 10am and inaugurate the project titled 'Expansion and Modernisation of Facilities at Mongla Port'. He will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), also known as Invest Bangladesh, and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on investment cooperation.

Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mustafa said construction work would formally begin following the foundation-stone laying ceremony. He added that an agreement for the project was signed between Bangladesh and China on October 10, following the Prime Minister's recent visit to China.

The project, being implemented by the Mongla Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping, is expected to significantly increase the port's cargo-handling capacity and strengthen its role in international trade.

Of the total estimated cost, the Bangladesh government will provide Tk 475.33 crore, while China will extend Tk 3,592.90 crore in loan assistance. China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of CRCC, has been appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

Under the project, two modern container jetties, Nos. 10 and 11, with a combined length of 368 metres will be constructed along with supporting infrastructure. The development plan includes a loaded container yard covering 87,600 square metres, an empty container yard of 34,170 square metres and a 4,260-square-metre yard for handling hazardous goods.

The project also provides for the procurement of 49 pieces of modern equipment and machinery. The new terminal will be capable of handling more than 30 containers per hour and is expected to raise the port's annual container-handling capacity to around 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Bagerhat-3 lawmaker and State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said the proposed cooperation with China would also facilitate railway connectivity with Mongla Port.

Under the proposed arrangement, goods would be transported by rail from the inland container terminal (ICT) to Mongla Port and subsequently shipped abroad. Such connectivity would facilitate exports from different parts of the country, strengthen trade and generate employment across the southwestern region, he said.

The Prime Minister's visit has raised expectations among businesspeople and port-related stakeholders in the region. They believe the new facilities could give fresh momentum to import-export activities through Mongla.

President of Mongla Port Shipping Agents Association Mosharraf Hossain, however, stressed that several complementary infrastructure projects would be necessary to realise the full potential of the port's expansion.

These include initiating construction of the proposed Foyla Airport, for which land has already been acquired, upgrading the Mongla-Khulna highway to six lanes and resolving navigability problems in the Pashur Channel through regular dredging.

He also called for removing obstacles to import-export activities, promoting environmentally friendly tourism centred on the Sundarbans and ensuring the security of fishermen and forest-dependent communities. He expressed hope that the Prime Minister's visit would provide directions for addressing these longstanding demands.

This will be Tarique Rahman's second visit to Mongla since assuming office as Prime Minister. He previously visited Mongla and the Sundarbans on October 22 to assess the development potential of the port, the forest and the proposed economic zone.

After completing his Mongla programme, the Prime Minister will travel to Bagerhat to offer prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (RA).

He will then proceed to Khulna, where he is scheduled to arrive at the Circuit House around 2:15pm. At 3pm, he will inaugurate the second season of 'Notun Kuri Sports-2026' at Khulna District Stadium.

The nationwide initiative, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, aims to identify and develop sporting talent among children and adolescents. Around 16.23 lakh participants have registered for the programme, with competitions scheduled to begin in 503 upazilas.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Khulna by helicopter for Dhaka at around 4:30pm.