Chattogram Port’s 134th founding anniversary Sunday
The country’s premier maritime port reported a 7.7% growth in container and cargo handling in March
The 134th founding anniversary of Chattogram Port, the premier maritime port of the country, will be observed on Sunday.
This seaport currently handles more than 92% of Bangladesh's imports and exports, and 98% of container goods.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year the port authorities did not arrange any formal programmes to mark the day.
On this occasion, Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority expressed greetings and congratulations to all concerned, including all officers and employees of the port, berth operators, terminal operators, ship handling operators, C&F agents, freight forwarders, Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, shipping agents, workers, port users, and all stakeholders, for their all-out cooperation in the smooth operation of the port.
According to sources at the port, in March 2021, the number of ships touching port was 376, container handling was 2,69,446 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), and cargo handling was 1104,2818 tonnes.
The number of ships arriving at Chittagong port in March 2020 was 366, container handling was 2,49,669 TEUs, and cargo handling was 10,264,402 tonnes.
In March this year, the year-on-year growth in container and cargo handling is about 7.7%.
Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said the port has handled more than 28 lakh containers in 2020 despite the global coronavirus crisis. In 2009, for the first time, Chattogram Port was recognised as the 98th largest port of 100 container ports.
In just 11 years, in 2020 it has notched up 40 steps to 58th position globally. This achievement of Chattogram Port is a reflection of the ongoing economic development of the present government.
Noting the importance of Chattogram Port for the national economy, the chairman said that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, various development projects such as the Bay Terminal, Patenga Container Terminal, and the New Mooring Overflow Yard are underway to modernise the port.
52 acres of important land for the port has been acquired in the Laldiachar area of Patenga. Various plans are being taken to increase the port facilities in the area.
