India will give a Tk. 6256 crore loan facility to Bangladesh for upgrading Mongla Port. Several sources have confirmed that the loan facility will be available from July of the running month.
It further confirmed that the work started with the money from the Indian government will end by 2022.
The finances will be provided from the $ 4 billion loan agreement signed with Bangladesh under India’s third line of credit (LOC) when Bangladesh prime-minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in April, 2017, informed the port authority.
Md Zahirul Huq, chief planning official of Mongla port told Bangla Tribune: “the discussed project, to be completed with the loan from India, will feature 12 components, including constructions of terminal 1 and 2 on the jetty, container handling yard, container delivery yard, yard shade, residential complex, service vessel jetty, MPA tower plus other infrastructure.
The work will also include security wall automation, port entertainment and accommodation facility, overpass development and other work.
Chairman of Mongla Port authority, Commodore Faruk Hassan, told Bangla Tribune: “the current infrastructural facilities at Mongla are inadequate.”
The project has been undertaken envisaging the rise in port activity, once Padma Bridge goes into operation, he added.
This will aim to give modern facilities to port users.
At present, there are 11 LPG factories, 5 cement factories within port premises with economic zone (BEPZA) on 258 acres of port land.
“The raw materials needed for the existing industries are transported through Mongla, therefore, the extension of the port is getting priority form the government.”
Khulna city mayor and member of the port advisory committee, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, told the Bangla Trihbune: “Bangladesh government has extensive development plan for Mongla, which includes, four lane highway, extension of EPZ, establishment of special economic zone, increasing the navigability of Rupsha River plus the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel.”
The last government, did not carry out any improvement to the port facilities and destroyed it through rampant corruption, deplored the mayor.
This government has given a new lease of life to a dead port, he said adding enthusiastically: “every day, 40 to 50 ships are anchoring here.”
Foreigners are showing keen interest in using this port, added the mayor.