Mongla Port users urge govt to ensure water depth in channel for safe shipping
Friday, 22 June 2007
Our Correspondent
MONGLA, June 21 : The users of Mongla Port (MP) have urged the authorities concerned to undertake proper steps to maintain adequate water depth in the channel, and ensure safe shipping at day and night.
The existing facilities of MP can especially serve the north-western regions of Bangladesh as well as help in cargo transshipment of neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and boarder areas of India. Due to lack of proper transport facilities the port has not been fully utilised, said sources.
It is expected that transport network with the country's northern area will be upgraded and uninterrupted in near future. As a result, the Nepalese transit cargo and cargo from western part of Jamuna River can be handled through the port.
Besides, with the completion of Padma Bridge the Dhaka-bound export-import cargo will also be handled through MP that will lessen the cargo congestion at Chittagong Port.
MP Chairman Ashraf Mohammad Iqbal said, the establishment of two EPZs at Ishwardi and Saidpur is underway, and infrastructural development of 124 industrial plots at Mongla EPZ has been completed, of which 11 industrial units have already started their production and five more units will start production soon.
Moreover, Mongla Port Authority has allotted riverside land of the port to 19 private sector industries, of which eight industrial units are in production, and the rest 11 units are on the way of starting their production.
As a result, number of entering ships at MP and quantity of cargo handling through the port will be increased. Besides, with the completion of the proposed inland container terminals at Dhaka and Narayanganj, MP will also get priority in handling containers.
MP has the capacity to handle about 6.5 million (65 lakh) tonnes of cargo per year, but only 20 per cent of its capacity is presently utilised. Five projects have already been planned to utilise MP's facilities up to the maximum level, and also attract the business community to use the port, the sources added.
MONGLA, June 21 : The users of Mongla Port (MP) have urged the authorities concerned to undertake proper steps to maintain adequate water depth in the channel, and ensure safe shipping at day and night.
The existing facilities of MP can especially serve the north-western regions of Bangladesh as well as help in cargo transshipment of neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and boarder areas of India. Due to lack of proper transport facilities the port has not been fully utilised, said sources.
It is expected that transport network with the country's northern area will be upgraded and uninterrupted in near future. As a result, the Nepalese transit cargo and cargo from western part of Jamuna River can be handled through the port.
Besides, with the completion of Padma Bridge the Dhaka-bound export-import cargo will also be handled through MP that will lessen the cargo congestion at Chittagong Port.
MP Chairman Ashraf Mohammad Iqbal said, the establishment of two EPZs at Ishwardi and Saidpur is underway, and infrastructural development of 124 industrial plots at Mongla EPZ has been completed, of which 11 industrial units have already started their production and five more units will start production soon.
Moreover, Mongla Port Authority has allotted riverside land of the port to 19 private sector industries, of which eight industrial units are in production, and the rest 11 units are on the way of starting their production.
As a result, number of entering ships at MP and quantity of cargo handling through the port will be increased. Besides, with the completion of the proposed inland container terminals at Dhaka and Narayanganj, MP will also get priority in handling containers.
MP has the capacity to handle about 6.5 million (65 lakh) tonnes of cargo per year, but only 20 per cent of its capacity is presently utilised. Five projects have already been planned to utilise MP's facilities up to the maximum level, and also attract the business community to use the port, the sources added.