Mongla, Dec 02 (V7N) – Mongla Port Authority celebrated its 75th founding anniversary on Monday with a grand ceremony highlighting the port’s expanding operational achievements and future prospects as one of Bangladesh’s key maritime gateways.

The day’s events began at 11:30 a.m. with a colorful rally from the administrative building premises, ending at the jetty gate. Balloons and doves were released to inaugurate the main program, which took place inside the port jetty area. Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority, attended as the chief guest.

Senior officials, including Member (Harbor & Marine) Commodore Md Shafikul Islam Sarkar, Member (Finance) and Director (Administration) Kazi Abed Hossain, Member (Engineering & Development) Dr. A. K. M. Anisur Rahman, Director (Board) Kalachand Singh, Harbor Master Captain Mohammad Shafikul Islam, and Colonel Md Firoz Wahid were present, along with department heads, port employees, and port users.

During the ceremony, 29 organizations received awards in various categories for their contributions in ship coal handling, revenue payments, fertilizer handling, general cargo operations, gas, container shipments, vehicle imports, and cargo management.

Highlighting the port’s recent performance, Chairman Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman stated that Mongla Port handled 356 ships in the first five months of the current fiscal year. Container handling reached 13,854 TEUs, while vehicle imports totaled 4,139 units. Cargo import and export volumes stood at 4.4 million tonnes.

Enhanced operational efficiency has enabled the port to handle more than 24 containers per hour for the first time due to new modern equipment. Consistent dredging activities have ensured navigability, allowing five ships to berth simultaneously across the five jetties.

The Chairman also emphasized Mongla Port’s growing regional importance. Transit cargo destined for neighboring countries is expected to boost trade significantly. With multimodal connectivity through road, river, and rail links, Mongla Port offers faster and more efficient transportation options for goods across the Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal divisions.

The Port Reception Facility (PRF) project has been completed and awaits inauguration. Once operational, it will allow Mongla Port to collect spilled oil from vessels during accidents, enhancing the region’s marine environmental protection capacity.

As a key economic artery of southwestern Bangladesh, Mongla Port currently plays a vital role in the country’s economy through the import of food grains, cement clinker, fertilizers, automobiles, machinery, rice, wheat, coal, fuel, stones, maize, oilseeds, and LPG, as well as the export of seafood, frozen fish, shrimp, jute and jute goods, clay, tiles, silk fabrics, and general cargo.

Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second seaport, began operations on December 1, 1950, under the name Chalna Port following Gazette Notification PD-4(48)/50/1 on 29 September 1950. It was later reconstituted under the Port of Chalna Authority Act of 1987 and renamed Mongla Port Authority.

The 75th anniversary celebrations reflected both the port’s historical significance and its expanding role in driving national and regional trade.

END/AHS/SMA/