Mongla Port. File Photo

KHULNA, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS) - Mongla Port, the country's second-largest 
seaport, has set a new record in container handling during the first seven 
months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, marking a significant rise in maritime 
trade activity.

According to officials of the Mongla Port Authority, the port handled 21,651 
TEU containers between July 2025 and January 2026, surpassing the total 
21,456 TEUs handled in the entire 2024-25 fiscal year. The latest figure 
represents a 79.19 percent increase compared to the same period of the 
previous fiscal year.

Senior Deputy Manager of the port authority Md. Makruzzaman, told BSS that a 
total of 515 foreign commercial ships arrived at the port during the seven-
month period. Among them were 31 foreign commercial container vessels. During 
this time, the port also facilitated the import of 6,404 reconditioned 
vehicles.

Cargo handling during the period stood at 82,66,000 metric tonnes (MT), 
reflecting a 25.03 percent increase over the corresponding period last year.

Makruzzaman said that with four and a half months remaining in the current 
fiscal year, the port has already exceeded last year's container handling 
volume, expressing optimism that overall performance will improve further by 
the end of the fiscal year.

To enhance operational capacity and facilitate port users, the authority has 
announced three new operational anchor berths at the Hiron Point area. 

Trial operations have already been successfully completed at these berths 
with 16 commercial ships of 9.00-meter draft. The new facilities will now 
allow the handling of commercial vessels up to 200 meters in length and 9.00 
meters draft.

The port currently handles the import of essential commodities such as food 
grains, cement raw materials, clinker, fertilizer, automobiles, machinery, 
rice, wheat, coal, oil, stone, corn, oilseeds and LPG. Export items include 
white fish, shrimp, jute and jute products, frozen food, crab, clay tiles, 
silk fabrics and other general cargo.

Officials expressed hope that increased ship arrivals and expanded port 
capacity will further boost import and export activities, contributing 
significantly to the country's economic growth.