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Mongla Port, the country's second-largest seaport and a vital hub for international commerce, stands on the brink of a major operational transformation. The prospects for an economic corridor, a substantial loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China, and an official on-site inspection by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on October 22 have sparked renewed economic optimism across Bangladesh's southwestern region.
The port inspection marked Tarique Rahman's first official tour of Khulna since assuming the premiership. Trade analysts and port officials project that swift execution of the proposed expansion projects could position Mongla not only as a pivotal national gateway, but also as a premier regional transit hub and "first calling port." Bolstered by multimodal integration linking maritime routes with upgraded highways, freight rail corridors, and regional air transit, the facility is being primed for broad international maritime logistics.
According to the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), a landmark loan agreement worth $335.78 million (approximately Tk 4,000 crore) was signed with the Exim Bank of China on October 10. The capital infusion is earmarked to expand container handling capacity, digitize core port operations, and finance capital dredging along the port channel. Enhanced water depth will allow deeper-draft mother vessels to berth directly at the jetties, an operational benchmark previously unattainable.
Securing status as a "first calling port" in international sea trade is expected to significantly reduce container turnaround times, allowing foreign merchant vessels to divert cargo away from an overburdened Chattogram Port directly to Mongla. This logistical efficiency is projected to sharpen Bangladesh's export competitiveness across ready-made garments, raw jute, processed leather, and frozen seafood.
The modernization blueprint is paired with extensive multimodal infrastructure enhancements. Key priorities include upgrading the Khulna-Mongla road into a four-lane expressway, fast-tracking the Khulna-Bhanga highway link, operationalizing dedicated wagon and container freight trains, and inaugurating the long-awaited Khan Jahan Ali Airport to facilitate access for global buyers and maritime representatives. Concurrently, the establishment of the proposed Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) industrial park adjacent to the port is anticipated to draw domestic and foreign manufacturing conglomerates.
During his tour, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inspected Jetty No. 9 and the proposed BEZA economic zone site. MPA Deputy Director Md. Salah Uddin Kabir stated that the Prime Minister issued directives on expanding handling capacity, upgrading infrastructure, and achieving critical channel draft, noting that continuous dredging remains paramount to accommodating larger vessels.
Industry leaders have voiced strong backing for the developments. General Secretary of the Mongla Port Berth and Ship Operators Association Md. Zulfikar Ali remarked that the Prime Minister's visit would expedite efforts to unlock the port's commercial potential, particularly with the addition of planned economic zones and an LNG terminal. Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sheikh Sahed Ali Robi emphasized that alongside capital dredging, modernizing the Mongla Customs House and tariff assessment wings is vital to easing congestion at Chattogram Port. State Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam added that these strategic investments will stimulate regional trade while generating alternative livelihoods for coastal communities displaced by climate change.
