The Dock Workers Board of Directors at Mongla Port will be abolished and a new cargo handling system introduced soon to smooth operation of the country’s second largest seaport, which has been underused due to alleged mismanagement. In a further step, the government has decided that part of government-level imports and exports would be shifted to this port to enhance ship arrivals here. The new cargo handling system, known as berth operation, has recently been introduced at Chittagong port as part of the scheme to improve performance at the country’s premier port.

Shipping Adviser Major General (rtd) MA Matin, also chief coordinator for the national taskforce on serious crime and corruption, announced the long-overdue overhauling plan on May 27, unveiling the caretaker government’s aim to make the port “vibrant” with export-import operations. “Berth operation system will be introduced here by canceling the Dock Workers Board, the way it was done at Chittagong Port,” he said while briefing journalists after a meeting with the officials of the port and local administration at the seaport on May 27 morning. In the meeting, the adviser said that the government has no plan to privatise the port.

He hoped that activities at the port would get a boost after implementation of the Padma Bridge project, work on which has already started. He noted that the port has been facing image crisis internationally following harassment as cases were filed against 96 ships at different times. The adviser also called upon the authorities concerned to ensure safety of the ships and to be careful so that no such case could be filed against any ships in the future. He assured of buying dredging machine for the port and implementing Capital Dredging Project at a cost of Tk 550 crore.

The port authority started three shifts instead of two and merchant system from April 16 to make the port more active.