Written by The Banking Post
Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport, has the potential to reduce container handling time at Chittagong Port to international standards, industry leaders say.
Currently, container unloading at Chittagong Port takes five to six days—two to three times longer than the global standard of one to two days, according to Inamul Haq Khan, Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
“Often, we are forced to ship goods by air to meet buyer commitments, which costs four times more than sea transport,” he added.
Khan emphasised the urgent need for Chittagong Port to improve efficiency to meet international benchmarks. He made the remarks during a roundtable titled “Challenges, Opportunities, and Way Forward in Shipping & Logistics Landscape” held on Sunday.
The event was attended by Mohammad Yousuf, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, as chief guest, while Dr. Ahmed Ullah, Director General of the Chief Adviser’s Office, served as special guest.
Industry experts highlighted that leveraging Mongla Port could help decongest Chittagong Port, speed up container turnaround, and reduce overall logistics costs for exporters.
