By Asma Parvin Abritty:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the modernisation and expansion of Mongla Port will turn it into a promising economic hub for the country’s south-western and north-western regions, with the government planning to expand road connectivity, port supply chains and cargo transport facilities from Panchagarh to the Bay of Bengal.

“If Mongla Port is modernised and its facilities are expanded…It will become a promising economic hub for the country’s south-west and north-west,” he said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Tk 4,068 crore “Mongla Port Facilities Expansion and Modernisation Project” in Mongla this morning.

He said the capacity building and modernisation of the port will strengthen trade links with different parts of the country and help expand economic activities.

There is huge scope to expand economic activities in the south-western region, including Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Jashore, centred on the port, he said.

The Prime Minister said, “Development of Khan Jahan Ali Airport is also one of our priorities. In the present global order, it is extremely important to keep energy and food security effective above all.”

“I firmly believe Mongla Port, as a complementary port for importing fuel, fertiliser, foodgrains and industrial raw materials and exporting domestic products, can further enrich national economic security,” he added.

Tarique Rahman said the initiative will help strengthen the country’s industry, trade and economic security, and add sustainable socio-economic value, especially in youth employment, entrepreneurs’ confidence in investment and balanced regional development.

He laid the foundation stone of the project, which includes two container jetties and related infrastructure, at 11:15 am.

Once the project is implemented, container trains from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) will be able to run directly to Mongla Port, turning it into a major import-export hub of the country, he said.

Under the modernisation project, necessary infrastructure, including a modern container terminal, yard and cargo handling facilities, is being built, he said.

“If the work is completed on time, the economic condition of this region will change, Inshallah, and a new door of economic possibilities will open not only for this region but for the whole country,” he added.

Noting that the project’s success does not end with the completion of construction, the Prime Minister said, “The real success of any project depends on how much port service quality improves, how much time and cost of cargo handling fall, how much investment and employment grow, and how much the environment is protected.”

“We must follow international environmental and safety standards, build climate-resilient infrastructure and increase the use of renewable energy,” he said.

In this connection, he stressed on eco-friendly service management, pollution control and safe waste management of ships.

He also said fire safety, trained manpower and emergency response capacity are needed to handle hazardous operations.

Highlighting the country’s economic target, the Prime Minister said his government has set the goal of turning Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

“To achieve this goal, top priority is being given to investment, industrialisation, export diversification, energy and food security, and skilled human resource development,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged international stakeholders, development partners and, in particular, expatriate Bangladeshis to come forward with investment to help make the country self-reliant.

In this context, he said the government is committed to ensuring a favourable investment climate, easy service procedures, reliable infrastructure and policy continuity.

“The modernisation of Mongla Port is only one step in the plan to transform Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy,” he added.

“So, it is extremely necessary to ensure the port’s navigability, the reliability of the navigation channel, the safe movement of ships and competitive port services,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said Mongla Port must now be made attractive to international shipping companies and developed into a first calling port on suitable commercial and operational terms.

He said the government has taken steps to supply gas as quickly as possible to existing industries and to those who may set up new ones in the area. “Work has already been started to this end,” he said.

Recalling the region’s industrial past, he said Khulna and the surrounding areas once had many mills and factories. “We want to bring back that lost heritage,” he said

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Md Razib Ahsan, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa and CRCC Chairman Dai Hegen spoke on the occasion.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and other senior officials were present.