Mongla port's founding anniv today

KHULNA, Nov 30 (BSS): The Port of Mongla, the second busiest sea port of the country, is set to celebrate its 69th founding anniversary on Sunday with a commitment to boosting its capacity and service tremendously.
To mark the day, an elaborate programme was chalked out including colourful rally, discussion, cake cutting, doa mahfil and cultural function.
Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar is
expected to lead the programme.
Established in 1950, Mongla port has gone through many struggles and setbacks, said a top official, adding "But now it is one of the busiest sea ports of the country".
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took a visionary step to revitalise the port after Awami League came to power in 2009.
While talking to BSS on Thursday, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Mozammel Haque praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her decision to turn the port into an active one.
He said Mongla port capacity will be increased by four times within the next two years. Around 500 acres of land of the port has been readied for the construction and extension of jetty, yard and bonded warehouse, he said.
He went on saying that the authority has implemented over 50 development programmes from June 2009 to 2019 to enhance its capacity at a cost of over Tk 8.39 billion (Tk 839.47 crore).
He said, "We are implementing seven ongoing projects at a cost of Tk 1,676.43 crore," adding that six more development projects at a cost of Tk 369.62 crore awaits government's approval.
Now, the port is capable to handle 1,000 ships per year which was zero before 2009, he said, adding that the number of ships coming to this port has tremendously increased in a decade. In last fiscal year (2018-19), 912 ships arrived.
After being completed the construction of the Padma Bridge, Mongla port will be able to send covered vans and cargoes to the capital Dhaka directly, he said.