Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on Thursday, 5 November, that a modernised Mongla Port could become the economic hub of southwestern Bangladesh, driving trade, investment and jobs across Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Jashore.
He was speaking at the port after laying the foundation stone at around 11:15am for the Tk 4,068 crore project to build two container jetties, a container terminal, yards and upgraded cargo-handling facilities. (Read our report on the project.)
What the PM said
- Rail link: once the project is complete, container trains will be able to run directly from the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot in Dhaka to Mongla, according to his deputy press secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.
- Connectivity: the government plans better road links between Panchagarh and Mongla, a stronger port supply chain and the development of Khan Jahan Ali Airport.
- Economic security: Mongla can handle imports of fuel, fertiliser, food grains and industrial raw materials, as well as exports.
- Port performance: keeping the channel navigable, ensuring safe ship movement and offering competitive services are key to attracting international shipping lines.
- Environment and safety: he called for pollution control, safe handling of ship waste, climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, fire safety and stronger emergency response.
- Energy: the government is working to bring gas to the region to revive industries around Khulna.
Mongla economic zone MoU
On the same day, Invest Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) signed a memorandum of understanding on investment facilitation for the proposed Bangladesh–China Mongla Economic Zone, in the presence of the Prime Minister.
The two sides will explore investment in energy, industrial infrastructure, environment-friendly infrastructure, transport, logistics and skills development. Invest Bangladesh will help connect investors with public and private stakeholders. The MoU was signed by Saleh Ahmed, member of Invest Bangladesh’s Industrial Zone Division, and Li Chongyang, chairman of CRCC subsidiary China Engineering Construction Corporation.
The Prime Minister also thanked China for its support for Bangladesh’s infrastructure and invited foreign investors, development partners and expatriate Bangladeshis to invest, as the government targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Based on reporting by bdnews24.com and bdnews24.com, 5 November 2026.
Photo: Representative image: ship-to-shore container cranes. PPD / Wikimedia Commons, public domain
