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Mongla Port Sees Record 556 Foreign Ships Dock
Mongla Port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, set a new milestone by welcoming a record 556 foreign commercial ships over the past seven and a half months, significantly boosting its revenue earnings.
In January 2025, the port saw 83 foreign vessels docked, up from 76 in the same month the previous year. The increase was attributed to a surge in exports, particularly jute, shrimp, and frozen foods, according to port sources. Additionally, by February 15, 2025, at least 60 foreign commercial ships had already arrived at the port.
From July 2024 to February 15, 2025, Mongla Port handled a total of 71,52,688 tonnes of goods. In January, the port facilitated the import and export of 13,26,912 tonnes of goods, with 5,41,305 tonnes handled up until mid-February.
To support the increase in shipping activity, the interim government has implemented several measures aimed at attracting more vessels to Mongla Port. Currently, 16 foreign ships, carrying goods such as fertiliser, clinker, LPG, coal, and stone, are anchored at permanent mooring points around the port, including Harbaria, Base Creek, and Sundori Kota.
Among the key shipments, the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel Akij Glory docked at Mongla Port with 75,000 tonnes of coal on Monday, underscoring the port's strategic role in the region's economy.
Mongla Port serves as a crucial driver of economic growth for southwestern Bangladesh, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs and facilitating the import of essential goods such as food grains, raw materials for cement, automobiles, machinery, rice, wheat, coal, and LPG. The port also handles the export of products including white fish, shrimp, jute, frozen food, crabs, and textiles.
Muhammad Makruzzaman, Deputy Director of Public Relations at the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), highlighted the ongoing construction of seven development projects aimed at boosting the port’s capacity.
MPA Chairman Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman noted that the port is being transformed into an international hub. With increasing ship arrivals and growing trade volumes, he emphasized that the import of reconditioned cars through Mongla has surged as more importers opt for the port.
Once the ongoing projects are completed, Mongla Port is set to become an eco-friendly and business-friendly international seaport, enhancing its role in global trade.