Mongla Port, the country’s second busiest seaport, broke a 70-year record on the arrival and anchorage of merchant ships, despite a global sluggish economy due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Breaking all previous records, with one month remaining of the current fiscal year, the port recorded arrival of 913 ships. During the previous fiscal year, the port recorded 912 ship arrivals.
According to Mongla port sources, 519 ships have landed at the port in the first six months of the 2020-21 fiscal year. Last January, there were 98 ships anchored in the port, 85 ships in February, 70 ships in March, 86 ships in April and 55 in May. The aggregate number of ship arrivals in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year stands at 913.
Confirming the matter, Mongla Port Authority Chairperson Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, told The Report on Tuesday (June 1) afternoon, "Operations at our port were as usual despite the ongoing lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. The port operations were not suspended even for a single day. The officers and employees working in the port have worked relentlessly in compliance with the hygiene rules.”
The owners of commercial ships have shown interest to use Mongla Port due to the improved facilities at the port, he added.
Describing the 70-year-old record-breaking of Mongla Port as a “milestone achievement” he furthered that earlier commercial ships were not willing to deck at Mongla port due to natural circumstances. However, the situation persists, as the government has implemented various modernization initiatives for the port. We are hopeful that with our relentless efforts, our port will attract more commercial ships in the coming fiscal year.
He also voiced optimism that the arrival of more commercial ships at Mongla Port in the next fiscal year would create a new chapter in the country's import-export trade with governments apropos endeavours to develop the port.
