Investment in the latest equipment must be made, as well in personnel who are trained
Mongla port has been plagued with problems in the past, but this neglected and undervalued seaport may finally be entering a new chapter.
Once, Mongla was on the verge of shutting down, but now it is keeping up with the bigger and more famous Chittagong port. With the right investments in place, the capacity of Mongla port could be expanded, and this could do wonders in the long term for the economy of Bangladesh. This month, a major agreement signed with a Chinese company for inner bar dredging is due to come into effect. Once this is complete, Mongla will become a realistic alternative to Chittagong port.
This is a historical time for Mongla port, and as such, the port authorities must keep their eyes on the ball. With the recent anchoring of the 117th foreign vessel, Mongla surpassed all its previous records of the monthly handling of shipments in the past 70 years.
No doubt, there is still a long way to go before the full potential of Mongla port can be realized. Investment in the latest equipment must be made, as well in personnel who are trained to manage the increased load. It is important that along with greater capacity, there must be speedier and more efficient handling of the arriving cargo. Mongla port has seen stalemates of activity in the past, and the port’s reputation has suffered as a result.
All the murky issues that have surfaced in recent years must be resolved. If we can accomplish that, there will be a positive effect on surrounding areas almost immediately, with the port acting as a catalyst. A growth in shipments means greater economic activity around the export zone, meaning more jobs.
Source : Dhaka Tribune
