The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) under the shipping ministry has signed an agreement to procure a mobile harbour crane for the port at a cost of Tk 42.70 crore to ease the port’s container handling system after 68 years since the port established.

MPA chairman commodore AKM Faruk Hasan and Saif Power-tech Ltd managing director Tarafder Ruhul Amin signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at the shipping ministry yesterday.

Shipping minister Shajahan Khan, shipping secretary Abdus Samad and other high officials were present during the signing ceremony.

A renowned crane manufacturer company of Germany LIEBHERR will supply the crane within 250 days after opening the letter of credit (L/C) as per agreement.

The government has taken up 13 projects at a cost of Tk 454.47 crore to increase the capacity of the Mongla port, the shipping minister told reporters after the signing ceremony.

“It would help to expedite loading and unloading of port’s cargo after commissioning the mobile harbour crane. It is an epoch making initiative of the present government to procure the mobile crane after 68 years,” Shajahan Khan said.

According to him, it would be possible to earn Tk 12 crore after commissioning the crane and it would be possible to handle 20-25 containers per hour.