January 01, 2020
The government approved a project on Tuesday to strengthen the safety-related activities of Mongla Port for ensuring safe foreign trade and conducting emergency rescue operations during disasters and inclement weather.
Presided over by Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in Dhaka endorsed the project along with six others at a combine cost of Tk 44.60 billion.
After the meeting, Planning Minister M A Mannan said the ECNEC approved the procurement of ancillary marine vessels project at Tk 7.67 billion for safely handling the growing export and import activities through marine lines.
He said the Mongla Port Authority (MPA) under the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) will implement the project for the port, and it will be completed by June 2022.
According to the MPA, it will purchase one mother vessel, two tugboats, one search and rescue vessel, one survey and research vessel, one laying vessel, and other necessary equipments.
The planning minister also said out of the total cost for seven projects, Tk 43.46 billion will come from the government’s internal sources, and Tk 1.14 billion from the implementing agency’s own fund.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s directives, M A Mannan said all kinds of bulk goods should be transshipped through Mongla Port, as it has a bright prospect of shipping the goods of India, Bhutan and Nepal.
The MPA claimed that once the project is implemented, the port’s capacity will increase notably. The port is expected to handle 0.87 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers by 2025, which is likely to rise to 4.53 million TEUs by 2049.
The minister further said the PM has directed the authorities concerned to install modern and latest scanners at the sea-, land- and river-ports, so that no banned or illegal items can enter into the country.
She has also directed the agencies to upgrade all the inter-district roads and regional highways into four-lanes, and construct necessary flyovers and roads to connect the country’s bordering districts.
Mr Mannan also said the PM has asked the authorities concerned to boost river communication with neighbouring Assam of India, Bhutan and Nepal.
She directed the MoS to give special attention, so that river banks are not evaded due to improper dredging work.
At the ECNEC meeting Sheikh Hasina also unveiled annual report of the Ministry of Planning for the last fiscal year (FY) 2018-19.
The ECNEC also approved other projects: Construction of border roads in Mymensingh and Netrakona portion (1st revised) at an additional cost of Tk 1.02 billion, Matuail sanitary landfill expansion and land development (1st revised) at an additional cost of Tk 8.19 billion, Construction of drains for addressing water-logging in Rajshahi metropolis 3rd phase (1st revised) at an additional cost of Tk 565.70 billion, Capacity strengthening of Department of Livestock Services at Tk 2.20 billion, Power grid network strengthening under PGCB (1st revised) at an additional cost of Tk 23.03 billion, and Establishment of Institute of Livestock Science and Technology in Sylhet, Lalmonirhat and Barishal at a cost of Tk 1.91 billion.
Ministers, state ministers, the Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present at the ECNEC meeting.
