Developing Mongla Port

Bangladesh is a country of limited resources and it aspires—and genuinely—to become a middle income country within a short time. That is why when the country ought to utilize all its potentials for achieving the goal soon, it is rather lamentable that Mongla Port’s full capacity could not be utilized. Contrary to its development, we see here a rather frustrating scenario as only half of its capacity is utilized now. This neglect to the port is not desired at all.   
According to a report published in this newspaper, the anchoring of container carrier ships in this port plummeted by 29.41 per cent during the July–February period of the current fiscal year in comparison to the corresponding period of the last fiscal. This large decline in anchoring is attributed to the reduced navigability of the Possur channel as well as rising costs. So why the relevant authorities are delaying to dredge the Possur channel to bring back its navigability? According to Mongla Port Authorities, 50 per cent of the port’s capacity that is remaining unutilized is due to the loss of navigability of the channel as well as absence of necessary equipment in the port.
Another reason for which importers show reluctance to use Mongla Port is that an additional $ 300-500 they have to pay compared to the time when they use the Chittagong Port. Cost also rises as Mongla Port’s main harbour is 132 km from the port. All these setbacks that the businessmen are facing point out that the government is not serious about development of the port. Yet, the country can ill afford to waste its smaller economic potentials. If the port can be developed up to the desired level, it is not only the local businessmen, businessmen of India, Nepal and Bhutan would also use the port increasingly.
There is a plan to develop the port with funding from China. According to the report, the expansion project of Mongla Port facilities includes construction of container terminal buildings, a multi-storied car yard and a container delivery yard. A main road and a bypass road of four lanes near Mongla Port have also been planned to be constructed. But the immediate necessity is dredging of the Possur channel and the ministry of water resources ought to pay urgent attention to this.

 

Developing Mongla Port

Bangladesh is a country of limited resources and it aspiresand genuinelyto become a middle income country within a short time. That is why when the country ought to utilize all its potentials for achieving the goal soon, it is rather lamentable that Mongla Ports full capacity could not be utilized. Contrary to its development, we see here a rather frustrating scenario as only half of its capacity is utilized now. This neglect to the port is not desired at all. According to a report published in this newspaper, the anchoring of container carrier ships in this port plummeted by 29.41 per cent during the JulyFebruary period of the current fiscal year in comparison to the corresponding period of the last fiscal. This large decline in anchoring is attributed to the reduced navigability of the Possur channel as well as rising costs. So why the relevant authorities are delaying to dredge the Possur channel to bring back its navigability? According to Mongla Port Authorities, 50 per cent of the ports capacity that is remaining unutilized is due to the loss of navigability of the channel as well as absence of necessary equipment in the port. Another reason for which importers show reluctance to use Mongla Port is that an additional $ 300-500 they have to pay compared to the time when they use the Chittagong Port. Cost also rises as Mongla Ports main harbour is 132 km from the port. All these setbacks that the businessmen are facing point out that the government is not serious about development of the port. Yet, the country can ill afford to waste its smaller economic potentials. If the port can be developed up to the desired level, it is not only the local businessmen, businessmen of India, Nepal and Bhutan would also use the port increasingly. There is a plan to develop the port with funding from China. According to the report, the expansion project of Mongla Port facilities includes construction of container terminal buildings, a multi-storied car yard and a container delivery yard. A main road and a bypass road of four lanes near Mongla Port have also been planned to be constructed. But the immediate necessity is dredging of the Possur channel and the ministry of water resources ought to pay urgent attention to this.