DHAKA, Dec 31, 2019 (BSS) – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a Taka 767.25 crore project for procuring ancillary marine vessels for the Mongla Port in a bid to handle properly the growing number of ocean going ships.
The approval came from the 15th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal (FY20) with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that a total of 7 projects were approved today involving an overall estimated cost of Taka 4,460.54 crore. “Of the total project cost, Taka 4,346.40 crore will come from the Government of Bangladesh portion while Taka 114.14 crore from concerned organization’s own fund.”
Of the approved 7 projects, 3 are new while 4 others are revised projects.
The Planning Minister said the Mongla Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping will implement the procurement of ancillary marine vessels project for the Mongla Port to be completed by June 2022.
The main objectives of the project are to ensure safe channel at Mongla Port, properly handling the ocean going vessels and conducting emergency rescue operation during disasters and inclement weather.
The main project operations include procurement of one pilot mother vessel, two tugboats, one search and rescue vessel, one survey and research vessel, one laying vessel and other necessary equipments.
The Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opined that all kinds of bulk goods should be transshipped through this Port while this Mongla Port has a very bright prospect of exporting the transit goods of India, Bhutan and Nepal.
According to the Planning Commission, this Mongla Port has a bright prospect of handling around 1200 ships every year and for this there is a need for ensuring round the year navigability of 145 kilometer channel of the port.
Once the project is implemented, the capacity of Mongla Port will increase a lot as this Port is expected to handle 8.72 lakh TEUs containers by 2025 which is expected to rise by 45.32 lakh TEUs by 2049 as well as more than 30,000 cars.
The Planning Minister said the government has certain goals to upgrade
the all inter-district roads and regional highways into four-lanes,
construction of necessary flyovers, and to construct roads along the entire
bordering area of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister at the ECNEC meeting also unveiled the cover of the
annual report of the Planning Ministry for the last fiscal year (FY19).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has opined to boost river communication
with Asam of India, Bhutan and Nepal, said the Planning Minster.
The Premier also asked the Ministry of Shipping to keep special
attention so that no dredging work is conducted along the River banks to
evade erosion.
Sheikh Hasina also underscored the need for installing modern and latest
scanner machines at the land ports and river ports so that no banned or
illegal items could get access.
The other projects approved in the meeting are Construction of border
roads at Mymensingh and Netrakona portion, 1st revised with an additional
cost of Taka 102.27 crore, Matuail Sanitary Landfill expansion and land
development, 1st revised with an additional cost of Taka 819.68 crore,
Construction of drains for addressing water logging at Rajshahi metropolis,
3rd phase, 1st revised with an additional cost of Taka 56.57 crore, Capacity
Strengthening of Department of Livestock Services with Taka 220.59 crore,
Power Grid Network Strengthening Project under PGCB, 1st revised with an
additional cost of Taka 2,302.80 crore and Establishment of Sylhet,
Lalmonirhat and Barishal Institute of Livestock Science and Technology with
Taka 191.38 crore.
Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting while Planning
Commission members and secretaries concerned were present.