The government has initiated a fresh move to ensure at least 60 per cent of the total shipment of jute and jute goods through Mongla Port. The previous steps to this effect failed to make any desired outcome.
Under the move the shipping ministry at a meeting Monday assigned a committee to discuss the matter with all stakeholders and submit its recommendations on how exports of jute and jute goods can be enhanced through the second largest seaport of the country.
The committee headed by the Chairman of Mongla Port Authority Riazuddin Ahmed has been given one month for submitting its report to the ministry.
About 2.2 million bales of jute and jute goods are being exported through the country's ports. Mongla port gets only 20 to 25 per cent of the shipment.
About 90,000 tonnes of jute and jute goods were exported through the Mongla Port during the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14.
If exporting 60 per cent of jute and jute goods through the port is made compulsory, then handling of the items will rise to around 1,50,000 tonnes annually. It will help the port increase revenue, Kazi Golam Moktader, director (Traffic) of Mongla Port Authority (MPA) told the FE.
Earlier the government has taken initiatives for the development of the Mongla Port through conducing dredging regularly. But despite this most of the shipment of jute and jute goods and other products are being exported through the Chittagong port.
Earlier the government has decided to unload 40 per cent of imported food grains and fertilizer through the port aiming to increase cargo handling of the port. But still the port could not utilise its 50 per cent of its cargo handling capacity.
The Mongla Port Authority (MPA) also held a meeting with the users of the port on August 18, 2014 on how to gearing up cargo handling through the port.
The MPA earned Tk 1.55 billion during the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14. Out of the amount the MPA earned Tk 240 million through cargo handling of jute and jute goods export during the last fiscal.
The port will be able to handle around 1,50,000 tonnes of jute and jute goods export once it is made compulsory. This will help it to earn Tk 70 to Tk 80 million more from the earning of jute goods cargo handling.
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