Staff Correspondent
The government has taken an initiative to develop Mongla Port as it is considered a crucial driver of the country’s economic progress.
As part of this initiative, the Mongla Port authority has planned to increase cargo handling capacity and efficiency of the second largest seaport in the country.
To this end, PowerPac Ports Ltd and Saif Port Holdings on Monday signed an agreement for development and operation of two jetties at Mongla Port under Public Private Partnership.
Managing Director of PowerPac Ports Ltd Mr Ron Haque Sikder and Managing Director of Saif Port Holdings Limited Tarafder Md Ruhul Amin signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at The Westin in the capital.
Mr Ron Haque Sikder, in his speech, said, “Today (Monday) we have partnered with Saif Port Holdings to develop two jetties at Mongla Port.”
Saif Port Holdings has a remarkable track record in extensive operation of sea ports in the country, he added.
“I would like to reassure that Sikder Group will strive to meet its promises to help build Bangladesh as ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and materialise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Vision 2021 as well as achieve sustainable development goals by 2030,” he added.
This agreement aimed at constructing two jetties at Mongla Port will ease cargo handing activities, Tarafder Md Ruhul Amin told Bangladesh Post.
He said at present the port has the capacity of one lakh TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit). With the construction of these two jetties, the capacity will increase to four lakh TEUs.
Both the companies will develop and operate the jetties for next 30 years, he added.
Commodore Faruk Hasan, chairman of Mongla Port, said, “These two jetties are very important. There were some problems which we have overcome.”
“I thank Ron Haque Sikder for his promise to carry out the development work despite several problems,” he added. The inclusion of SAIF Port Holdings Limited will give a new momentum in developing the Mongla Port, he hoped.
Shipping Secretary Abdus Samad and Chief Executive Officer of PPP Authority Muhammad Alkama Siddique were present on the occasion. On behalf of PowerPac Ports, COO and Director of Sikder Group Syed Qamrul Islam Mohon, Directors Ivor Pratap, and Mohammad Salauddin attended the signing ceremony.
From SAIF Port Holdings Limited, its CEO Maj Md Sirjus Salekin, and Directors Md Altaf Hossain and Md Anisuzzaman, among others, were present.
