Work on a set of infrastructure development projects aimed at increasing the capacity of Mongla Port, the second largest seaport of the country, is likely to begin in the first quarter of this year.

Mongla Port Authority sources said a decision to this effect was made in December last while a technical team from China visited the port.

On October 14, 2017, Bangladesh and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop Mongla Port at a cost of around Tk 3000 crore.

The MoU was signed in presence Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The projects include construction of four jetties and two yards, a large multistoried garage for car parking, four lanes road, purchasing of 11 survey and tag boats and modern machineries for handling cargoes and containers.

The sources said the government of India earlier provided an assistance of Tk 6,256 crore for the development of Mongla Port as a first class seaport.

Mongla Port has already turned into a profitable and busy port with enhanced foreign ship anchoring, cargo handling and exports and imports in the last nine years.

Talking to BSS, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Commodore AKM Faruk Hasan said capacity of the port will be enhance manifold on completion of the projects.