[🇧🇩] Sea Ports/Air Ports/River Ports/Bridges/Mega Projects

[Saif]

Ctg Port: Container transport resumes after 3 days

Container transport to and from the Chittagong Port resumed this evening after three days as prime movers’ drivers and helpers finally withdrew their work abstention

www.thedailystar.net

Ctg Port: Container transport resumes after 3 days

File photo

Container transport to and from the Chittagong Port resumed this evening after three days as prime movers' drivers and helpers finally withdrew their work abstention.

The drivers of container-ferrying vehicles resumed work at 8:00pm after a successful two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with law enforcement agencies at the Office of Deputy Commissioner (Port) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, CMP DC Badrul Alam Molla confirmed to The Daily Star.

Prime mover workers enforced the work abstention on Tuesday night following a clash between a group of prime mover drivers and security guards of Chattogram DC Park located beside Chattogram Port Toll Road at Fouzderhat in Sitakunda upazila.

The following stalemate suspended container transport between the port and 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) located in and around the port city.

Two vessels sailed from the port today, leaving over 300 TEUs of export containers since these containers could not be sent to the port from different private ICDs due to the non-operation of container carrying vehicles.

Md Selim Khan, president of Chattogram District Prime Mover Trailer Workers Union, told The Daily Star that the administration assured of keeping the DC Park closed temporarily and taking steps to create an alternative route for visitors to reach the park so that they do not need using the Port Toll Road for going there.

Prime movers and other cargo carrying vehicles to and from the port face hurdles to cross the area due to acute gridlock caused everyday by visitors' vehicles as the park is located just beside the busy road, he said.

Tuesday's clash ensued when the park's security guards assaulted a driver of a prime mover for not slowing down promptly according to their signal when a private car was exiting the park.

The workers withdrew the strike at 6:00am on Thursday after a meeting between Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam held the previous night.

But drivers started striking again at 10:00am Thursday when they found the park was opened despite assurances from the administration of keeping it closed.​

 

[Saif]

Inbound vessels struggle to berth at Ctg port

A long queue of inbound vessels has formed at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port as sufficient berths are unavailable due to delays in scheduled departures caused by disruptions in container movement late last week.

www.thedailystar.net

Inbound vessels struggle to berth at Ctg port
Port users blame delayed departures amid container backlog

A long queue of inbound vessels has formed at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port as sufficient berths are unavailable due to delays in scheduled departures caused by disruptions in container movement late last week.

Operators of prime movers, which are vehicles used for transporting import-export containers, had abstained from work for more than three days due to a dispute with security personnel at Chattogram DC Park in Sitakunda upazila.

And although cargo movement resumed on Friday night, the acute backlog of containers in port yards and private inland container depots (ICDs) may persist for another two weeks or more, according to port users.

The three-day stalemate delayed the scheduled departure of at least six vessels, with each extending their stay by one to four days in hopes of securing their previously allotted containers.

However, four of these vessels left the port with less than their anticipated load as 1,900 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), comprising 900 TEUs of export containers and 1,000 TEUs of empty containers, were left behind.

And since these vessels had to stay additional days at the port jetties, berthing delays occurred for other incoming vessels.

As of yesterday morning, a total of 14 vessels seeking berths were waiting at the outer anchorage of the port.

When transport workers began their strike on February 5, only three vessels were awaiting berths. But with delays lasting between one and three days, other vessels added to their numbers.

Berth operators assume that some of these inbound vessels may have to wait even longer since some of the outbound vessels have extended their stay to collect the allotted load.

Besides, import, export, and empty containers have piled up at port yards and ICDs amid the halt in cargo movement.

The port's busiest terminals – New Mooring Container Terminal and Chittagong Container Terminal – have reached 80 percent of their full capacity of 26,000 TEUs.

Nazmul Haque, executive director of Saif Powertec Limited, which operates the two terminals, said the backlog began because no containers were transferred to and from ICDs during the three-day strike.

He added that on average, more than 2,500 TEUs of import containers are delivered or transferred to ICDs each day. And while this did not happen during the three-day period, another 3,000 TEUs had arrived at the time.

Haque also said at least 40 percent of the port's yard space must be kept empty to ensure smooth operations. And considering the situation, he fears it may take two weeks to clear the backlog.

Likewise, ICDs are struggling to clear the backlog, with 19 that handle import-export containers currently holding double their full capacity.

These 19 ICDs usually accommodate 7,000 to 8,000 TEUs of export containers. But due to the three-day stalemate, the number of export-laden containers they now hold has reached 14,000 TEUs.

Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, said they were still occupied with 12,000 TEUs as of yesterday afternoon even though a significant volume was transported since the strike ended.

"Any sort of stalemate creates a chain effect at every stage of the supply chain, causing backlogs in every facility," said Sikder, who fears that it will take another 15 days to clear the backlog.​

 

[Saif]

BR test runs passenger train on new Jamuna railway bridge

The longest dedicated railway bridge of the country will be inaugurated formally on March 18

www.thedailystar.net

BR test runs passenger train on new Jamuna railway bridge

Photo Courtesy: Jamuna Railway Bridge Project Authority

Bangladesh Railway today started operating passengers train through the newly built Jamuna Railway Bridge on trial basis, a month before its formal inauguration.

The longest dedicated railway bridge of the country will be inaugurated formally on March 18, Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman, additional director general (infrastructure) of BR, told The Daily Star today.

Masudur, also project director of bridge, said they have started using one of the two lines of bridge for the trial operation from today.

Earlier, they gave several trial runs without passengers.

He said the president of JICA, the financer of the over Tk 17,000 crore project, will take part in the bridge inauguration programme.

The 4.8km double line dual gauge bridge over Jamuna River will boost rail connectivity between Dhaka and northwestern regions.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka airport still not fog-ready

Passengers are experiencing severe difficulties due to frequent flight diversions caused by low visibility amid dense fog during winter, as pilots are unable to land aircrafts in the absence of a Category 2 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Dhaka airport.

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka airport still not fog-ready
Passengers suffer for frequent flight diversions; airlines bear losses as CAAB fails to upgrade ILS

Passengers are experiencing severe difficulties due to frequent flight diversions caused by low visibility amid dense fog during winter, as pilots are unable to land aircrafts in the absence of a Category 2 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Dhaka airport.

Aviation experts said upgrading the airport's existing Category 1 ILS to Category 2 would resolve these issues entirely. However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has yet to complete the necessary work.

ILS is a precision runway approach aid that relies on radio signals and high-intensity lighting arrays to provide pilots with both vertical and horizontal guidance during landings in thick fog.

Successive CAAB chiefs have assured that the installation of an upgraded ILS to ensure uninterrupted flight operations during winter would be completed soon. However, despite repeated promises, one winter has passed after another without the work being finished.

Flights are frequently diverted from Dhaka to airports in Sylhet, Chattogram, India, Bangkok, and even Malaysia when runway operations are suspended for hours due to low visibility, causing significant disruptions to flight schedules, according to officials of various airlines.

These diversions not only lead to passengers suffering, but also result in financial losses for airlines, which must bear the cost of extra fuel and various airport charges, including landing and parking fees, at alternative airports.

The disruptions also lead to delays across overall flight schedules.

"During this winter, we spent around Tk 6 crore so far due to diversion of our flights," said an official of US-Bangla Airlines.

A senior pilot of Biman Bangladesh Airlines said diverting a flight to another airport and returning to Dhaka requires a substantial amount of fuel, depending on the distance. "The additional take-offs and landings caused by diversions also lead to increased maintenance costs, as aircraft engines require overhauling sooner than expected," he added.

Captain Ashfaq Ur Rahman Khan, flight safety chief of Novoair, said the absence of ILS-2 forces airlines to waste time, energy, and money while passengers continue to suffer.

Captain Md Kamrul Islam, head of safety at Air Astra, said the Dhaka airport actually requires a Category 3 ILS system, as major airports, including Kolkata, already have Category 2.

Explaining the matter, Kamrul said a Category-3 ILS enables a pilot to land even in zero visibility.

Novoair Managing Director Md Mofizur Rahman said it's really disappointing that CAAB failed to upgrade the Dhaka airport's ILS to Category 2 even after years.

According to pilots, a minimum visibility of 800 metres is required for landing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Upgrading the airport's ILS would involve the implementation of a highly accurate radio signal-based navigation aid providing horizontal and vertical guidance. One type of signal gives the glide path, while another indicates the runway's central line, offering pilots precise bearings for landing.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said nearly all procedural and mechanical work for the ILS-2 project, including the installation of runway lights, has been completed.

He said the final step involves acquiring an aircraft to assess and survey the system's functionality. Despite issuing open tenders three times, CAAB has not received any responses for the required aircraft. Efforts are ongoing to complete the task as soon as possible.​

 

[Saif]

Railway operations running at half of requirement for over a month

The Chattogram port has been facing acute congestion caused by a pileup of import-laden containers, particularly ones bound for the Kamalapur inland container depot (ICD) in Dhaka.

www.thedailystar.net

Ctg port overrun by Dhaka-bound containers
Railway operations running at half of requirement for over a month

For over a month, authorities have been running only one or two pairs of freight trains between the port and the Dhaka ICD per day. Photo: Star/file

The Chattogram port has been facing acute congestion caused by a pileup of import-laden containers, particularly ones bound for the Kamalapur inland container depot (ICD) in Dhaka.

This issue has been caused by slow railway transport due to a shortage of locomotives.

For over a month, authorities have been running only one or two pairs of freight trains between the port and the Dhaka ICD per day.

But port authorities say at least four pairs of trains need to make the trip daily to clear containers arriving at the dedicated Chattogram Goods Port Yard (CGPY).

An increase in the import of goods ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, which starts next month, only caused the pressure to intensify.

Around 70 percent of the goods arriving at the port belong to importers based in Dhaka and its surrounding areas. Of those, around 3 percent are transported by railways while the rest are moved over road and river routes.

The CGPY has space to store up to 876 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of Dhaka ICD-bound import-laden containers.

However, as of yesterday, it had exceeded more than twice the capacity, with 1,818 TEUs being crammed inside, raising concerns among the port authority as well as importers.

Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association Vice-President Khairul Alam Suzan said containers unloaded from vessels 15 days ago were yet to be loaded onto Dhaka-bound trains.

Sources at the port informed that at least 500 TEUs of Dhaka-bound containers were on board several vessels waiting to berth at the port.

Port users and officials said at least four trains are required to run daily and take away at least 200 TEUs of containers from the CGPY to Dhaka in order for the yard to function smoothly.

Data collected from the port shows that the railway made only 28 trips in the first 15 days of this month, taking 1,167 TEUs of containers to Dhaka.

From January 1 to January 31, a total of 68 trips were made, bringing 2,698 TEUs from the port to Dhaka.

Abdul Malek, chief master of the railway at the CGPY, said they need at least 4 to 5 locomotives to run daily whereas they are currently getting only one or two.

With the introduction of several train services on different routes, including the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route, several locomotives have become otherwise engaged, causing a scarcity, he added.

To find a solution, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sat in an urgent meeting with officials of Bangladesh Railway and Chattogram Custom House on Tuesday.

CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk said they urged the railway authorities at the meeting to run at least three trains every day in order to carry a significant volume of containers to Dhaka.

To clear the backlog, he said the Chattogram Custom House was requested to give approval to take delivery of these Dhaka-bound containers either from the port yard or from the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj.

The authorities of both institutions assured that they would take steps accordingly, Faruk said, adding that they were preparing to send letters to the two in this regard yesterday.

Usually, imported cargo is allowed to be delivered to the recipients from the destination point as mentioned in the import documents.​

 

[Bilal9]

River ports logistics operators in Bangladesh have pulled off another Fait Accompli, carrying a super heavy 457 ton Gas turbine recently,



The specific company involved as shown above - is Steady Lift Ltd. which provides oversized heavy duty logistics for power turbines and other heavy objects weighing up to 1200 tons. Over the years, there have been super heavy lift custom cranes made locally with capacities upwards of 1200 tons for this purpose (placing super heavy objects onloading and offloading from barges) to float them to destination. Below is a 1000 ton crane custom-made locally for this purpose by Bengal Electric.

https://cranemarket.com/blog/bangladesh-based-bengal-electric-to-unveil-1000-ton-floating-crane/

Following are some pictures of other riverine heavy lift and transport operations in Bangladesh.

 

[Saif]

Ease the congestion at Ctg port

Shortage of locomotives must be urgently addressed

www.thedailystar.net

Ease the congestion at Ctg port
Shortage of locomotives must be urgently addressed

We are concerned about the severe congestion at the Chattogram port, where import-laden containers, particularly those bound for the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka, have piled up. The problem is reportedly caused by a shortage of locomotives running between the port and the Dhaka ICD. According to port authorities, at least four pairs of freight trains are needed daily to transport containers from the dedicated Chattogram Goods Port Yard (CGPY) to the Dhaka ICD. However, the railway authorities have been operating only one or two pairs of freight trains on this route for over a month. The pressure on the port has been further exacerbated by the recent increase in imports ahead of Ramadan. Additionally, the countrywide strike by Bangladesh Railway (BR) train crew in late January has also contributed to the congestion. If this issue is not urgently resolved, it will place immense pressure on the port in the coming days.

Reportedly, around 70 percent of the goods arriving at the port are for importers based in Dhaka and its surrounding areas. Of these, approximately three percent are transported by rail, while the rest are moved by road and river routes. It is unfortunate that the railway is struggling to transport even this small percentage of goods efficiently. While the port can accommodate up to 876 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of Dhaka ICD-bound import-laden containers, as of February 19, it was handling more than double its capacity, with 1,818 TEUs being stored. The situation is so dire that containers unloaded from vessels 15 days ago have yet to be loaded onto Dhaka-bound trains. Moreover, according to port sources, around 500 TEUs of Dhaka-bound containers are currently on several vessels waiting to dock at the port.

We, therefore, urge BR and Chattogram port authorities to address this issue without delay. While the shortage of locomotives due to the introduction of new train services is understandable, this problem cannot persist for months. The railway authorities must make urgent decisions to run enough trains to transport the piled-up containers to Dhaka. Transporting at least 200 TEUs daily by freight trains could help alleviate the current congestion. Additionally, port authorities should consider alternative solutions, such as delivering Dhaka-bound containers from the port yard or the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj, to ease the congestion.​

 

[Saif]

Third party to reevaluate ongoing mega projects

The interim government has decided to reevaluate the country’s ongoing mega projects through a third-party, citing political influence led to an average 70 percent overvaluation of mega projects undertaken during the Awami League rule.

www.thedailystar.net

Third party to reevaluate ongoing mega projects
Decides high-level meeting led by CA; task force report on economy discussed

The interim government has decided to reevaluate the country's ongoing mega projects through a third-party, citing political influence led to an average 70 percent overvaluation of mega projects undertaken during the Awami League rule.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said this at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy about the decisions of a high-level meeting on the country's economy held at the office of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday.

Yunus chaired the meeting.

Shafiqul said due to the overvaluation of the mega projects, public money worth about $14-24 billion was lost.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Planning and Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Md Siraj Uddin Mia, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur were present, among others, at the meeting on the country's economy.

At the meeting, they discussed the report recently submitted by the task force on re-strategising the economy and mobilising resources for equitable and sustainable development.

The report identified corruption in development projects, irrational avoidance of taxes, and flaws in supply chain management as major factors of corruption during the last regime.

As such, the government has decided to introduce e-filing at all its offices, aiming to make its tasks smooth and check corruption.

Citing the examples of other countries, the press secretary said the e-filing helps bring down corruption to a minimal level.

The task force also made a number of recommendations, including in the areas of economy, education, health, social protection and employment, agriculture, fisheries and animal resources, transport infrastructure, environment, and climate change.

It recommended that only the firms approved by the Central Procurement Technical Unit will conduct feasibility studies of the transport infrastructure, and the Planning Commission will publish the reports.

It also recommended appointing efficient project directors, reducing land acquisition time, improving interchange facilities on the roads and highways, removing marketplaces along the roads and maintaining navigation facilities in building bridges.

For economic stability, the task force recommended the amount of foreign loans be kept at a tolerable level, taking soft loans instead of loans with high interest rates, reducing dependence on RMG for exports, removing logistics and infrastructure challenges, and forming a high-level committee to review incentives for exports.

For the power and energy sector, the task force suggested sustainable and alternative ways of power production instead of quick rental plants and independent power producers and adopting a "no electricity, no pay" policy instead of making "capacity payments" under the deals of independent power producers.

The task force suggested ensuring a fair wage structure in the industries, making administrative reforms to improve the ease of doing business, launching high-speed trains connecting the industrial parks, creating scopes for supporting the small and medium industries and improving the startups.

Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Suchishmita Tithi were also present at the media briefing.​

 

[Bilal9]

Ease the congestion at Ctg port

Shortage of locomotives must be urgently addressed

www.thedailystar.net

Ease the congestion at Ctg port
Shortage of locomotives must be urgently addressed

View attachment 14739

We are concerned about the severe congestion at the Chattogram port, where import-laden containers, particularly those bound for the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka, have piled up. The problem is reportedly caused by a shortage of locomotives running between the port and the Dhaka ICD. According to port authorities, at least four pairs of freight trains are needed daily to transport containers from the dedicated Chattogram Goods Port Yard (CGPY) to the Dhaka ICD. However, the railway authorities have been operating only one or two pairs of freight trains on this route for over a month. The pressure on the port has been further exacerbated by the recent increase in imports ahead of Ramadan. Additionally, the countrywide strike by Bangladesh Railway (BR) train crew in late January has also contributed to the congestion. If this issue is not urgently resolved, it will place immense pressure on the port in the coming days.

Reportedly, around 70 percent of the goods arriving at the port are for importers based in Dhaka and its surrounding areas. Of these, approximately three percent are transported by rail, while the rest are moved by road and river routes. It is unfortunate that the railway is struggling to transport even this small percentage of goods efficiently. While the port can accommodate up to 876 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of Dhaka ICD-bound import-laden containers, as of February 19, it was handling more than double its capacity, with 1,818 TEUs being stored. The situation is so dire that containers unloaded from vessels 15 days ago have yet to be loaded onto Dhaka-bound trains. Moreover, according to port sources, around 500 TEUs of Dhaka-bound containers are currently on several vessels waiting to dock at the port.

We, therefore, urge BR and Chattogram port authorities to address this issue without delay. While the shortage of locomotives due to the introduction of new train services is understandable, this problem cannot persist for months. The railway authorities must make urgent decisions to run enough trains to transport the piled-up containers to Dhaka. Transporting at least 200 TEUs daily by freight trains could help alleviate the current congestion. Additionally, port authorities should consider alternative solutions, such as delivering Dhaka-bound containers from the port yard or the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj, to ease the congestion.​

I believe,

a) the Railways are run inefficiently by unqualified idiots

b) however the Railway officials are correct that there are not enough freight locomotives to pull container trains. They should urgently buy meter gauge locos (used if needed) for container train duty.

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladesh Navy uses own large sea-dredger to dredge Matarbari deep sea port.

 

[Saif]

Bay Terminal at Chattogram port to be a game-changer for Bangladesh

Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman has said the proposed Bay Terminal at Chattogram port will be a game-changer for Bangladesh. Speaking at a press briefing at Shaheed Md Fazlur Rahman Munshi Auditorium on Thursday, he expressed his optimism about expediting

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bay Terminal at Chattogram port to be a game-changer for Bangladesh
FE Online Desk
Published :
Feb 28, 2025 15:22
Updated :
Feb 28, 2025 15:27

Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman. File Photo

Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman has said the proposed Bay Terminal at Chattogram port will be a game-changer for Bangladesh.

Speaking at a press briefing at Shaheed Md Fazlur Rahman Munshi Auditorium on Thursday, he expressed his optimism about expediting the pre-implementation process of the mega-project saying a major update regarding the Bay terminal is expected by next month, BSS reports.

"The Bay Terminal will be a game-changer for Bangladesh. The Draft Project Proposal (DPP) is expected to be approved by mid-next month. We have already acquired 500 acres of land for the mega-project. The country will benefit more as soon as we complete the project," the port chairman said.

He, however, said that developed countries have fully automated green ports. "Our cargo growth rate is still 7-10 percent. We need to handle 5 million TEUs per year. We are trying to bring systematic changes and need to build over-flow yards apart from working to make the operations of 19 off-docks facilities," he added.

Emphasizing the priority on overall port security, the CPA chairman said, "Port is a national blessing and ensuring its security is our foremost priority. In no way, we can allow the disruption of port operation."

He informed that a US team on International Shipping and Port Security (ISPS) has conducted an audit and expressed its satisfaction regarding security measures taken in and outside the port.

In this context, he pointed out that CPA and Custom House have been working together to improve the operation in cargo release activities as well as removal of hazardous cargo from the ASYCUDA World system during imports.

"Around 120 refrigerated (temperature-controlled) containers had been plugged in for nine months, and those were destroyed. This kind of initiative had not been taken in the past 10-15 years, but we have completed it in just 3-4 months. There are 10,000 containers eligible for auction that has been lying around occupying huge spaces inside the port jetty.

"Once these idle goods laden containers are removed through auction after completion of on-going inventory, we will have space for smooth container operation for the next 4-5 years," he added.

He also informed that measures have been taken to prevent petty thefts within the port premises.

"We even traced an attempt where a vehicle chassis was used to smuggle goods. We have implemented multiple security measures to ensure that no one could utilize any loophole for forgery or burglary," the CPA chairman said.

In addition, he mentioned that cargo loaded from larger ships at the outer anchorage cannot remain idle within the port area for more than 72 hours.

He requested the media to highlight the positive achievement of the port; as misleading information regarding key-installation of the country's economic gateway usually projects negative impressions to the outside world.

"Railway wagon and engine shortage along with strikes called by outside workforce related to port operation often hampers port operation and affects the overall the performance of the port," he observed.

Freight for shipping at Pangao terminal was fixed earlier but it is now open as the market should determine the rates. Many reputed international companies have shown interest to operate Pangao Terminal. "We are committed to making the port more business-friendly and competitive," he said.

 

[Saif]

Why are iron bridges in Barguna collapsing?

Take measures to address the plight of commuters

www.thedailystar.net

Why are iron bridges in Barguna collapsing?
Take measures to address the plight of commuters

VISUAL: STAR

We are concerned to learn that at least 10 iron bridges, built over different canals in Barguna's Amtali upazila in 2008, have collapsed within the last eight months. This is disrupting the daily lives of thousands of residents, as they have to struggle to commute within the upazila and to Barguna district headquarters. Students, patients, and the elderly are being particularly affected. The question is: how could these bridges collapse within just 16 to 17 years of their construction? Who is responsible for such poor-quality work?

According to locals, the Local Government Engineering Department in Amtali upazila awarded Shahidul—the then chairman of Haldia Union Parishad—a tender to construct 21 iron bridges in Haldia and Chawra unions during the 2007-08 fiscal year, with an allocation of Tk 2 crore per bridge. Shahidul allegedly used his influence to secure the contract, and completed the construction using substandard materials. Reportedly, while the bridges were supposed to be built using iron beams and angle plates, he used lower-quality materials, leading to their rapid deterioration.

Sadly, when it comes to anomalies in public construction projects, Amtali is not an isolated case. A recent report revealed that the construction of a bridge over a canal in Patuakhali's Galachipa upazila has remained stalled for two years. Moreover, lack of maintenance and neglect by the authorities have led to severe deterioration of at least 242 iron bridges in the same district, posing an imminent risk of collapse. Thus, over the past decades, corruption and irregularities in construction projects have become prevalent. While large-scale corruption in megaprojects under the Awami League government has been widely reported, smaller projects like bridges, culverts, and roads—crucial for local communities—often escaped scrutiny. Substantial public funds were squandered on those poorly executed projects.

We urge the government to act urgently to rebuild the collapsed bridges and repair those at risk. Investigating these incidents and holding those responsible to account is imperative. More importantly, future construction projects must be closely monitored to prevent similar irregularities. Public funds must not be wasted due to the corruption of government officials and local political leaders. Infrastructure projects at the local level should prioritise durability and long-term benefits for the people.​

 

[Saif]

Mongla port to get Tk 4,000cr equipment from China

The government is set to purchase various equipment for Mongla port, Bangladesh's second-largest seaport, from China under a government-to-government arrangement for Tk 4,046 crore.

www.thedailystar.net

Mongla port to get Tk 4,000cr equipment from China

The government is set to purchase various equipment for Mongla port, Bangladesh's second-largest seaport, from China under a government-to-government arrangement for Tk 4,046 crore.

The initiative was approved by the advisory committee on purchase yesterday.

According to a Cabinet Division statement, the items will be directly purchased from the state-owned enterprise China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The purchase will be made under a Tk 4,068.23 crore project, which was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on February 2 this year, for the expansion and modernisation of Mongla port.

Of the project cost, Tk 475.33 crore will be borne by the government of Bangladesh, while the remaining Tk 3,592.90 crore will be sourced as a loan from China.

During the project's initiation, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that its main objective was to expand facilities at Mongla port by enhancing its container handling capacity, reports news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Mongla port, situated around 225 kilometres southwest of the capital Dhaka, is very important in the context of geopolitics, and the government wants to turn it into a regional hub, he added.

The project includes the construction of two container jetties, an 87,600-square-metre yard for containers bearing goods, a 34,170-square-metre yard for empty containers, and a 4,260-square-metre yard for handling hazardous cargo, the statement reads.

The advisory committee on purchase also approved the procurement of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the international spot market at a cost of Tk 664.40 crore.

The consignment will be delivered by US-based Excelerate Energy at $14.30 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).​

 

[Saif]

Economic slowdown lowers container handling at Mongla port

Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, witnessed a sharp decline in container handling throughout the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY), with growing economic constraints eroding business activities in the country.

www.thedailystar.net

Economic slowdown lowers container handling at Mongla port

Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, witnessed a sharp decline in container handling throughout the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY), with growing economic constraints eroding business activities in the country.

Official data shows that the seaport handled around 12,083 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in the July-January period of FY25, down 36.78 percent year-on-year.

The decline was worst in January, when container handling receded by 42.02 percent year-on-year to 1,697 TEUs, reflecting lower imports amid a sluggish domestic economy.

Khayrul Bashar, CEO of local cargo service provider Fleet Freight, said the decline in container handling is a result of the country's slowing industrial output.

He said local businesses are being cautious about foreign purchases amid the ongoing currency volatility and rising inflation, resulting in lower shipments of industrial raw materials and other key imports.

"Many businesses are cutting back on imports due to rising costs and tighter financial conditions," Bashar added while citing reduced shipments of bulk cargo and consumer goods through Mongla port.

He further said that this reflects the country's broader economic slowdown as lower imports of industrial inputs and intermediate goods is affecting the import-reliant industries.

Bashar also informed that just 250 of roughly 700 clearing and forwarding agents enlisted by the port are currently active.

"Higher import costs and lower industrial demand contributed to this decline," he said while highlighting challenges faced by the port in attracting major shipping lines and handling higher trade volumes.

AKM Anisur Rahman, member (engineering and development) of Mongla Port Authority, said container handling has fallen compared to previous levels because of economic challenges both home and abroad, including disruptions to the global supply chain.

Rahman explained that container traffic could also fluctuate amid shifting market trends, geopolitical uncertainties and changes to import-export behaviour based on the peoples' seasonal needs.

As such, he assured that such downturns are temporary, and that upcoming infrastructure projects would enhance the port's handling capacity.

Regarding a recently approved project for enhancing the facilities at Mongla Port, Rahman said the plans include constructing new jetties and upgrading its ICT with the aim of attracting more foreign ships through improved efficiency.

More specifically, the Tk 4,046 crore project will enhance the port's container-handling capacity by establishing more modern facilities, which includes a new container terminal, container delivery yard, and container stockyard.

Regarding the decline in container handling in January, Rahman expressed optimism that the volume would recover in the coming months, when the trade activities stabilise.

Moreover, Rahman said the port authority is focusing on long-term solutions to strengthen Mongla's position in the maritime trade sector.

And despite the recent decline, he remains hopeful that ongoing infrastructure projects, including those for improving road and rail links, will help Mongla port regain its momentum in coming months.

However, Rahman said much will depend on the global economic recovery and government initiatives to bolster trade and logistics efficiency.​

 

[Saif]

SpaceX discusses feasibility of providing services in Bangladesh's airports

The discussion was held between Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air-Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan and SpaceX Global Engagement Advisor Richard H Griffith at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA)

www.thedailystar.net

SpaceX discusses feasibility of providing services in Bangladesh's airports

SpaceX, the parent company of satellite-based internet service provider Starlink today discussed the feasibility of providing services at the airports in Bangladesh.

The discussion was held between Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air-Vice Marshal Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan and SpaceX Global Engagement Advisor Richard H Griffith at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), CAAB said in a release.

During the meeting, they discussed the possibility of introducing Starlink's services at Bangladesh's airports and various aspects of improving passenger services through it.

The CAAB chairman thanked the SpaceX representative for visiting Bangladesh and expressed hope for mutual cooperation on this matter in future.

Last month, a conversation over phone took place between Chief Advisor Prof Muhammad Yunus and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

During the discussion, they extensively talked about the necessity of launching Starlink services in Bangladesh and the possibility of implementing it as soon as possible.​

 

[Saif]

Country’s longest railway bridge inaugurated on Jamuna River

The longest rail bridge of the country was inaugurated on Jamuna River as a passenger train, starting from the eastern side, crossed the bridge in just three minutes and reached Soydabad in Sirajganj Tuesday morning.

en.prothomalo.com

Country’s longest railway bridge inaugurated on Jamuna River
Staff Correspondent
Tangail
Updated: 18 Mar 2025, 14: 55

Railway secretary Fahimul Islam was the chief guest at the inauguration event at Ibrahimabad station while Japan ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and JICA’s South Asia department director general Ito Teruyuki were the special guests at the event. Prothom Alo

The longest railway bridge of the country was inaugurated on Jamuna River as a passenger train, starting from the eastern side, crossed the bridge in just three minutes and reached Soydabad in Sirajganj Tuesday morning.

The inaugural train started the journey from Ibrahimabad station at 12:06 pm, reached the east side of the bridge at 12:12 pm. It took only three minutes and 15 seconds to cross the bridge. The train reached Soydabad station in Sirajganj at 12:21 pm.

Railway secretary Fahimul Islam was the chief guest at the inauguration event at Ibrahimabad station while Japan ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and JICA’s South Asia department director general Ito Teruyuki were the special guests at the event.

Jamuna railway bridge construction project Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman gave the welcome speech and Bangladesh Railway director general Md Afzal Hossain, who chaired the event, made the closing remarks.

The guests inaugurated the bridge by pulling a tumbler lever.

The bridge has dual gauge double tracks. Operation of the train on the bridge started on 12 February.

Jamuna rail bridge project director Al Fattah Md Masudur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the distance between the stations at two ends of the bridge is 13 kms. It would not take more than seven minutes to cross the bridge.

He further said earlier a train used to take 20-25 minutes to cross Jamuna bridge. But trains will take less time to cross the bridge now while the number of trains will also increase.

Trains are not using the old Jamuna bridge since the construction of the new bridge.

The 4.8 km bridge construction project was taken in December 2016. The initially estimated cost was just over Tk 97.34 billion and the work was scheduled to complete in 2023. Later the revised cost stood at Tk 167.8 billion and the tenure was extended to 2025.

The project’s initial name was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge. But the name was changed to Jamuna Railway Bridge after the interim government took power.

Forty nine spans of the bridge have been constructed on 50 pillars. A train could operate at 120 kmh. A railway source, however, said they have set a speed limit of 100 kmh. But the trains will operate at lower speed.

Inauguration of this rail bridge has opened a new horizon of communications with the northern districts of the country, Bangladesh Railway’s Paksey division commerce officer Goutam Kumar Kundu told Prothom Alo.​

 

[Saif]

Payra Port nothing but a 'poisonous boil' for economy: Adviser Wahiduddin

Planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Sunday criticised the Payra Sea Port project as a ‘poisonous boil for the country’s economy'. “This sort of project that reaches at the middle of it is a poisonous boil for the economy,” he said while briefing reporters about the outcome of the weekly ECNEC...

en.prothomalo.com

Payra Port nothing but a 'poisonous boil' for economy: Adviser Wahiduddin
UNB
Dhaka
Published: 23 Mar 2025, 19: 16
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Wahiduddin MahmudFile photo​

Planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Sunday criticised the Payra Sea Port project as a ‘poisonous boil for the country’s economy'.

“This sort of project that reaches at the middle of it is a poisonous boil for the economy,” he said while briefing reporters about the outcome of the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room with chief adviser Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

He lamented that at the initial stage of this project no one was there to point out that there is no possibility to set up a river port here without yearly dredging, whereas the seaport is a far cry.

Mentioning that the physical implementation of the project is 72 per cent till now while the financial implementation is more than half, the adviser said, “We can axe the project if we think that this project is a bad project, but that cannot be done, the port was established primarily to import coal for the power plant.”

Wahiduddin Mahmud said that two advisers have already visited the port lamenting that this is not a seaport, not a river port, it is merely a dock for boats. Two dredgers have been bought for this port which will be used round the year to dredge the long channel, he mentioned.

“Without dredging it cannot be used as a river port,” Wahiduddin Mahmud said, adding that without this the power plant cannot be managed to run.

The planning adviser said that ECNEC asked him to visit the port and find the best solution for this project. “I can say right now that there is no best solution to this--theoretically this is a bad project.”

Wahiduddin Mahmud said that this project can be stopped, but the coal-based power plant cannot be shut down. “This plant is running well, we have to bring coal for this one,” he added.

But, he said, this project will be termed a loss project in the coming future as it will incur loss for the country.

The Port of Payra, situated in Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh, was established through an Act of Parliament in 2013 and officially inaugurated in 2016.

Located on the Ramnabad Channel, near the Bay of Bengal, the port is supposed to serve as a key gateway for maritime trade in the region.​

 

[Bilal9]

Mongla Port to be modernized, cold chain facilities added for fruit and perishables export.

 

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