Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Mongla Port on Thursday (November 5) to inaugurate the construction of two new jetties, a container yard, and related infrastructure totaling BDT 4,068 crore.

This visit follows his earlier inspection of the port on October 22 to assess its ongoing development.

Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa, Chairman of the Mongla Port Authority, informed the media that the Prime Minister will launch the construction of two new container jetties and a container yard as part of the Mongla Port Modernization and Expansion Project.

The agreement for this development was signed during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to China, followed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a loan agreement signed between Bangladesh and China on October 10. The upcoming inauguration marks the formal start of this project.

The Chairman stated that the BDT 4,068 crore project encompasses the construction of two new container jetties, a container yard, and the addition of 49 modern equipment units for cargo handling.

The Government of Bangladesh will contribute BDT 475 crore to the project, with the remaining funding provided by the involved Chinese company.

Md. Zulfikar Ali, General Secretary of the Mongla Port Berth Ship Operators Association, highlighted key demands from port users, including planned and sustained dredging to enhance channel navigability, improvements to road and rail connectivity, operationalization of the Foyla Airport, and the swift construction of an LNG station at the port's Akram Point.

Lion Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, told the press that in addition to inaugurating the construction of the two container jetties, the Prime Minister will witness the signing of a railway agreement between Invest Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).

This agreement will pave the way for container rail services through Mongla Port, boosting investor confidence and business activity in the region.