Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 10, 2025 (BSS) - Mongla Port Authority (MPA) has set a new record by earning Taka 343.33 crore in revenue through handling 10.41 million tonnes of cargo during the 2024-25 fiscal year. 

The net profit stood at Taka 62.1 crore, which is 203.49 percent higher than the target of Taka 20.5 crore set by the MPA. 

During the period, a total of 11,579 reconditioned vehicles were imported through the country's second-largest seaport. 

Earlier, the MPA had set a target of earning Taka 333.87 crore by handling 8.88 million tonnes of goods. However, the authority exceeded the target, increasing revenue by Taka 9.46 crore (2.83 percent) and cargo handling by 1.53 million tonnes (17.25 percent). 

A total of 21,456 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) containers were handled during the fiscal year, surpassing the MPA's target of 20,000 TEUs.

According to MPA data, 10.412 million tonnes of goods were loaded and unloaded during FY 2024-25, compared to the target of 8.88 million tonnes. This marks a significant rise in cargo handling performance.

Cargo handling at the port stood at 10.86 million tonnes in FY 2023-24, while it was 9.90 million tonnes in FY 2022-23. Similarly, container handling reached 31,044 TEUs in FY 2023-24 and 26,583 TEUs in FY 2022-23.

In addition, 830 commercial foreign ships arrived at and departed from Mongla Port during FY 2024-25, exceeding the target of 800 vessels set for the period.

According to port sources, the successful completion of dredging activities on several river channels, including the Mongla-Ghasiakhali route, has enabled larger vessels to dock directly at the port jetty. This development has significantly improved navigability, raising expectations for increased vessel traffic at the port.

Citing recent statistics, officials said the port has made notable progress in all three major categories: container handling, cargo volume, and vessel arrivals.

Mongla Port Authority (MPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Shaheen Rahman said the port remained fully operational even during difficult times, playing a crucial role in supporting the national economy.

"Despite the risks, we continued operations to keep the country's economy afloat," he said. "We've now reached a record milestone, which will improve our global port ranking. It also proves that the country's economy is growing, and foreign trade is expanding."

Shaheen Rahman said the success of Mongla Port is the result of coordinated efforts by all stakeholders - including port officials and employees, berth and terminal operators, ship handlers, customs agents, freight forwarders, shipping agents, and dock workers. 

Since taking office, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government Professor Muhammad Yunus has been working to ensure greater transparency and accountability at the port, he added.

Shipping Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Senior Secretary of the Ministry Mohammad Yusuf, and other senior officials have visited the port multiple times and provided specific guidance for the development and expansion of its operations.

"Their timely directions played a key role in achieving all operational targets for FY 2024-25," the MPA chairman added.

MPA Deputy Director (Media) Md Makruzzaman told BSS that Mongla Port is now handling a growing volume of import-export goods, thanks to various initiatives taken by the current government - including large-scale dredging and infrastructure upgrades.

Among the key imported items are food grains, fertilizers, reconditioned vehicles, LPG, slag, limestone, soybean oil, edible oils, fuel oil, fresh produce, general cargo, gypsum, machinery, timber logs, coal, stones, clinker, palm oil, furnace oil, fly ash, iron, oil seeds, steel pipes, and molasses.

The major export items include ready-made garments, jute and jute goods, shrimp, white fish, dried fish, clay, crabs, machinery, cotton yarn, frozen foods, and other general merchandise.

In line with government directives, the port authority has been holding regular meetings with port users, including shipping agents, C&F agents, stevedores, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and address operational challenges.

To boost vessel arrivals and expand trade activities, the MPA has also formed an Internal Business Development Standing Committee, which has already delivered positive outcomes.