Mongla Port Set for Major Modernisation

Bangladesh is moving to develop Mongla Port into a technology-driven smart port, with plans to add two modern container jetties, automated cargo-handling equipment, dedicated storage yards and advanced scanning facilities. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman laid the foundation stone for the Tk 40.68 billion (Tk 4,068 crore) expansion and modernisation project on Thursday. Once completed, the project is expected to raise the port's annual container-handling capacity to around 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), while improving cargo movement, storage and terminal operations.

The foundation stone was laid at Jetty No. 9 of Mongla Port in Bagerhat on November 5. The Prime Minister arrived at the port at around 9:50am and formally inaugurated the project at 11:15am. A presentation prepared by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) outlining the proposed infrastructure and implementation plan was shown at the event.

Among those present were Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Sheikh Rabiul Alam; State Minister for Shipping Md. Rajib Ahsan; State Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Affairs Lion Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam; Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Affairs Chairman Zainul Abedin Faruk and other committee members. Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Shipping Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman Khan also attended.

The Chinese delegation included China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Chairman Dai Hegen, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh Song Yang, and CCECC Chairman Li Chongyang. Senior government officials and representatives of import-export and port-user organisations were also present. Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa presided over the event.

Two Jetties and a Modern Container Terminal

The project, titled “Expansion and Modernization of Mongla Port Facilities”, includes the construction of Jetties 10 and 11. The construction period is four years, with an estimated cost of US$335.78 million, equivalent to around Tk 40.68 billion.

The proposed jetty will be 368 metres long and 40 metres wide. It will be able to berth two vessels of 20,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) simultaneously or one vessel of 50,000 DWT.

The project will cover a total area of 227,000 square metres. This includes an 87,600-square-metre loaded container yard, a 34,170-square-metre empty container yard and a 4,260-square-metre yard for hazardous cargo containers. The plan also includes 50,400 square metres of internal roads, a 2,517-square-metre administrative building and a 3,909-square-metre container freight station (CFS).

Automation and Modern Handling Equipment

The project will introduce modern equipment to improve the speed and efficiency of port operations. The listed equipment includes four ship-to-shore cranes, seven rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, 10 terminal tractors, 10 terminal trailers, two empty-container handlers, one reach stacker, one container weigher and one fixed container scanner.

Ship-to-shore cranes will load and unload containers from vessels, while RTG cranes will move and stack containers within the yard. Terminal tractors and trailers will support internal transportation. Scanning and weighing systems will strengthen cargo security and management.

According to project information provided by the port authority, the new facilities are expected to enable handling of 30 containers per hour and raise annual capacity to around 400,000 TEUs. The improvements are expected to reduce handling time and costs while providing more secure storage space for containers.

Trade and Investment Opportunities

The expanded facilities are expected to provide more specialised container-handling services for sectors including ready-made garments, knitwear, jute products and fresh food. Organisations such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation and shipping agents are among the potential beneficiaries.

Mongla Port already has multimodal connections through road, rail and waterways. The new jetties and container yards are expected to make it easier to move cargo to different parts of the country using these transport links. The project could also support industrial and commercial expansion and create employment opportunities in the southwestern region.

The port authority aims to develop Mongla as Bangladesh's first smart port through the project. Automated container management, modern scanning systems, faster cargo movement and improved yard operations are expected to increase the use of technology in port services. These upgrades could improve logistics services for investors while reducing the time and cost involved in import-export operations.

Chinese Financing and Project Timeline

The project has gone through several stages of bilateral and institutional engagement. On August 26, 2021, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Chinese contractor CCECC to implement the project under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on February 2, 2025. A commercial contract between Mongla Port Authority and CCECC was signed on March 25 that year.

During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China on June 25, 2026, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD) signed a framework agreement on project financing. Subsequently, on October 10, Bangladesh signed a loan agreement worth RMB 2.404 billion, equivalent to approximately Tk 35.93 billion, with the Export-Import Bank of China.

The loan carries an interest rate of 2 percent and a repayment period of 20 years, including a five-year grace period. The loan amount is separate from the project's total estimated cost, as the project also includes a contribution from the Bangladesh government. According to the ERD, the Chinese financing will support the construction of two modern container terminals and associated infrastructure.

Once completed, the Mongla Port expansion could create new opportunities for industrial development, import-export activities and regional connectivity in southwestern Bangladesh. It may also strengthen trade and logistics links with neighbouring countries. However, the port's long-term competitiveness will depend not only on new jetties and equipment but also on navigability, transport connectivity and efficient terminal operations.

At the end of the ceremony, the Prime Minister planted a tree near the project site. A prayer was later held for successful implementation of the project and the overall development of the country.
//DBTech/KMAHPR/SMP/MVNO//