Mongla: Mongla, the country's second seaport, has celebrated 75 years of its establishment today. Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman inaugurated the programmes of the celebration by releasing balloons in front of the main gate of the port.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a colorful procession was organized from the port building, followed by a discussion inside the port jetty, which included recitations from the Holy Quran and verses from the Gita and Bible. The port authorities honored 29 institutions for their contributions to port development, and best employees were recognized for their work.
The celebration saw participation from Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mohidul Islam, Port Authority Member (Harbor and Marine) Commodore Shafiqul Islam Sarkar, Member (Finance) Kazi Abed Hossain, Member (Engineering and Development) Dr. A. K. M. Anisur Rahman, and other officials. Agriculturist Shamimur Rahman Shamim, Research Secretary of the Central Committee of BNP Gazi M. H. Tamim, and other dignitaries also attended the event.
Chalna Port was initially commissioned in the Chalna area of Khulna district on December 1, 1950. Operations were shifted to Mongla in Bagerhat after three years due to geographical reasons. Mongla Port commenced operations on December 11, 1950, with the arrival of a British merchant ship 'The City of Lions', which anchored in the Joymonir Ghol area of the Pashur River in the Sundarbans.
Despite facing various challenges over the years, Mongla Port has played a significant role in the country's import-export trade. The port is well-equipped with water, road, and railway infrastructure, offering potential for efficient goods transportation across the country and to neighboring India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The port authority is committed to advancing Mongla Port by leveraging these opportunities. Senior Deputy Manager of Mongla Port Authority Md. Makruzzaman noted that the port began as a government department and became an autonomous organization in May 1977, known as the 'Chalna Port Authority'. The name was changed to 'Mongla Port Authority' in March 1987.
Navigability has been a primary challenge for the port since its inception. The arrival of commercial ships nearly halted in 1980 due to insufficient depth for seagoing vessels. However, the waterway has been dredged at various times, and with modern equipment, the port can now handle over 24 containers per hour and accommodate 5 ships simultaneously.
The port authority reported a cargo handling target of 88 lakh 80 thousand metric tons for the fiscal year 2024-25. By the end of the fiscal year, the port handled 1 crore 4 lakh 12 thousand metric tons, exceeding the target by 15 lakh 32 thousand metric tons or 17.25 percent. Container handling exceeded targets by 1 thousand 456 TEUs or 7.28 percent, with 21 thousand 456 TEUs handled.
The port authority earned 2.83 percent more than the target for the last fiscal year, with revenue of Taka 343 crore and a net profit of Taka 62 crore. Chairman Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman stated that in the first 5 months of the current fiscal year, 356 ships arrived at the port, 13,854 TEUs of containers were handled, and 4 thousand 139 vehicles were imported.