Photo : Messenger
Mongla is the country's second-largest seaport. After the opening of the Padma Bridge, import-export through this port has increased manifold. However, due to the port's draft or water depth being only seven metres, large ships cannot anchor. As a result, ships have to anchor in the deep sea and unload cargo using smaller, lighter vessels. This increases both time and cost.
In this situation, the authorities have taken an initiative to increase the draft of Mongla Port. For this, a project of Tk 1,550 crore has been undertaken. Under this, the jetty draft will be increased from 9.5 metres to 10 metres. As a result, large mother vessels will be able to easily anchor at the jetty. The name of the project is 'Maintenance Dredging of Pasur Channel of Mongla Port.'
According to relevant sources, the Mongla Port Authority has already sent a proposal to the Planning Commission. The proposal sent to the Planning Commission indicates that through performance-based maintenance dredging, the navigability of the Pasur Channel of Mongla Port will be maintained, and around 347.50 lakh cubic metres of dredging will be done at various points of the Pasur Channel over five years.
Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority, said, “Mongla is the closest port to Dhaka. That's why we have also taken a five-year plan. In that continuity, we will acquire modern dredgers. Consequently, the draft around Mongla Port will be increased from 9.5 metres to 10 metres.”
The chairman further said that in 2020, dredging was carried out at the outer bar of the Pasur Channel in the harbour area to create the desired depth of 9.5 metres to accommodate ships of that draft. However, due to silt deposition, the depth decreases, hampering the movement of 9.5-metre draft ships in the harbour channel at the outer bar. Dredging is being intermittently carried out from the revenue budget to maintain the acquired depth in this area. To solve this problem and maintain navigability at the outer bar, regular maintenance dredging is required.
“To handle ships with a draft of 9.5 to 10 metres at the port jetties, under the project titled 'Dredging of Inner Bar of Mongla Port Channel', dredging of 237.55 lakh cubic metres is underway in a 23 km area of the inner bar to achieve a draft of 8.5 metres. This work is scheduled to be completed by June 2024. Maintenance dredging is required to maintain the navigability acquired in this area. The project has been proposed in this context,” he added.
Dr. A.K.M. Anisur Rahman, Member (Engineering and Development) of Mongla Port Authority, said, “After the opening of the Padma Bridge, the pressure on Mongla Port has significantly increased. However, the draft around the port is only seven metres. Consequently, large ships cannot anchor. For this reason, we have initiated a mega project around Mongla."
He said that the main activities of the project include Tk 10 crore for consultancy, Tk 50 crore for compensation for 2,000 acres of land, a boat costing Tk 10 crore 16 lakh, dredging with a cutter suction dredger of 264 lakh cubic metres at a cost of Tk 897 crore 60 lakh, dredging with a trailing suction hopper dredger of 83.5 lakh cubic metres at a cost of Tk 517 crore 70 lakh, and construction of an embankment with 15 lakh cubic metres of soil at a cost of Tk 20 crore 70 lakh.
Messenger/Fameema
