Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Mongla for Dhaka on Thursday after visiting the Sundarbans, Mongla Port, a naval base and the designated site of a proposed economic zone, prompting local residents and business leaders to express renewed hopes for investment, economic growth and job creation in southwestern Bangladesh.
The prime minister departed from Mongla helipad for Dhaka at around 5pm on October 22.
Earlier in the morning, after visiting the Sundarbans by helicopter, he landed at the field of Nalian Secondary School in Dakop upazila of Khulna at around 10:30am. He later travelled by water to BNS Mongla, where he exchanged views with officials from the Navy, Mongla Port Authority and local administration.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit, State Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah Harun and Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa were among those present, along with senior administrative and law enforcement officials.
After a meeting and lunch, the prime minister visited the jetty at Mongla Port in the afternoon. He then toured the designated site of a proposed economic zone under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).
Along the way, Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings with party activists and local residents waiting beside the road. Many expressed excitement at seeing him in person.
Local resident Kalam Sheikh said the prime minister got out of his vehicle and shook his hand.
“The prime minister got out of the car and shook my hand. I got another chance to shake his hand amid the crowd. I may never get such an opportunity again in my life. I am very happy,” he said.
Another resident, Robiul Islam, said the visit had made the long wait worthwhile.
“I would not have realised that a prime minister could lead such a simple life if I had not seen Tarique Rahman. He got out of his car and shook hands with ordinary people. We are very happy. Standing there for so long was worthwhile,” he said. Businesses look to port expansion and economic zone Local business leaders believe that increasing Mongla Port’s capacity, maintaining navigability along its waterways and developing new industrial and energy infrastructure could expand commercial activity and create jobs across the southwestern region.
Businessman Firoz Ahmed said they viewed the prime minister’s visit as an opportunity for development. He expressed hope that implementing an agreement with China on the expansion and modernisation of Mongla Port would increase port operations and stimulate regional trade.
Businessman Hemayet Uddin said southwestern Bangladesh had lagged behind in infrastructure development for years. He believes the proposed economic zone could generate substantial employment in Mongla, while an LNG terminal would help facilitate the expansion of business and trade.
BNP leader Hafizur Rahman Tuhin said the prime minister had visited the Mongla Port jetty, the proposed LNG terminal site near Akram Point in the Sundarbans, and the designated location of the new economic zone.
He expressed hope that stalled projects, including unfinished jetty construction and dredging, would be completed soon. Implementing the proposed LNG terminal and economic zone would expand trade and create more jobs in the region, he added.
Mohammad Zulfikar Ali, general secretary of the Mongla Port Berth and Ship Operators Association, said the port had considerable potential. He expects the proposed economic zone and a floating liquefied natural gas storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to expand commercial activity and positively affect the economy of southwestern Bangladesh.
Abdul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), said imports of reconditioned vehicles through Mongla Port generate significant revenue. However, he alleged that BARVIDA faces discriminatory treatment in the import process and expressed hope that the prime minister’s visit would help address the issue.
Sheikh Sahed Ali Robi, president of the Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Mongla Port’s capacity needed to be increased to ease pressure on Chattogram Port. He stressed the importance of dredging the port channel to improve navigability and modernising Mongla Customs House and the customs department.
He hoped the prime minister’s visit would help advance these initiatives.
Local lawmaker and State Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam said he expected the visit to encourage investment in the region. He added that the proposed initiatives could create alternative employment opportunities for coastal residents who have lost work because of climate change.
Such developments could bring significant changes to the local economy, infrastructure and living standards, he said.
The visit also generated positive expectations among local political activists. BNP leaders and activists from Mongla upazila and municipality held a procession on Tuesday afternoon to welcome the prime minister.
Security was tightened across the areas visited by the prime minister. Members of the President Guard Regiment (PGR), Navy, Coast Guard, police and intelligence agencies were deployed at the locations.
The report described the visit as the first by a prime minister to Mongla Port since Bangladesh’s independence.
Local residents and business leaders hope that implementing the projects inspected during the visit will help transform Mongla into a stronger economic hub for southwestern Bangladesh, expanding investment, trade and employment opportunities.
