Adviser Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the Modern Waste and Oily Residue Management Project, also known as the Port Reception Facility (PRF), at Mongla Port today. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the Modern Waste and Oily Residue Management Project, also known as the Port Reception Facility (PRF), at Mongla Port this afternoon.

Chairman of Mongla Port Authority Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman, Member (Harbour and Marine) Commodore Md Shafikul Islam Sarkar, Member (Finance) and Director (Administration) Kazi Abed Hossain, Member (Engineering and Development) Dr A K M AnisurRahman, Director (Board) Kalachand Singh, Harbour Master and Project Director Captain Mohammad Shafikul Islam, senior officials, employees and port users were present on the occasion.

As a signatory to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL), Bangladesh is committed to preventing marine pollution caused by ships.

In line with this commitment, Mongla Port has established an international-standard Port Reception Facility to ensure the safe collection, treatment and disposal of waste and oily residues generated by commercial vessels.

The project includes two oil recovery vessels, one waste collection vessel, a PRF treatment plant, one dump barge, one self-propelled barge, one service tugboat, one pontoon, and the construction of jetty and yard facilities.

Under the PRF system, polluted oily water and waste are collected from vessels at the port and outer anchorage by specialized ships and transported to the plant’s jetty. 

After laboratory testing, the waste is treated in stages under expert supervision to make it environmentally safe.

The plant has the capacity to convert treated waste into reusable resources, producing approximately 85 percent water, 12 percent usable fuel and 3 percent ash. The recovered fuel can be supplied to industries at affordable rates, contributing to reduced production costs.

Officials said the PRF plant will help Mongla Port meet international environmental standards, prevent illegal disposal of oil and waste at sea, protect fisheries and coastal ecosystems, enhance the port’s image as an eco-friendly port, and create a new source of revenue through waste collection and treatment fees. 

The project will also support Bangladesh’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in environmental protection and marine biodiversity conservation.

Mongla Port continues to play a vital role in the national economy by handling imports of food grains, fertilizer, cement clinker, coal, oil, vehicles, machinery and LPG, while exporting garments, frozen fish and shrimp, jute and jute goods, crabs, tiles, silk fabrics and general cargo, alongside generating employment in the southwest region.