Bagerhat Correspondent :
Mongla Sea Port was established in 1950 mainly to export jute and jute products to foreign countries but the lion shares of jut and jute products of this region were exported from Chittagang Sea Port for more than 5 decades.
Statistics of the last few years showed that 80 per cent of jute and jute products produced in the country was exported from Chittagang Sea Port while only 20 per cent was exported from Mongla Port.
One of the main reasons behind this is the shipment charge at Mongla Port is higher than that of Chittagong Port. Another important reason is that there is no staffing facilities of containers before the completion of necessary paper works in connection with export of goods. All these were disclosed by the exporters.
In a meeting held on March 12 between Mongla Port authorities and the leaders of Bangladesh Jut Association all those problems were discussed in details. In the meeting the main problems for the export of jute and jute products from Mongla port were also ascertained and the concerned authorities (Mongla Port authorities, customs department and other concerned authorities) assured the leaders of the jute association that all the hindrances and difficulties for exporting jute and jute products should be solved. The exporters are expected that as a result the export of jute and jute products will be increased from Mongla Port and consequently, the revenue of the port will be increased to a great extent.
It is alleged by the leaders of Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) that the lion share of the jute and jute products of the country is exported to the foreign countries from Chittagong Port by the traders of Khulna region. But those jute and jute products should be exported from Mongla port for its development and betterment. Only for1/2 reasons the exporters of this region are losing their interest to use Mongla Port.
It is mentioned in a letter written to the Chairman of Mongla Port Authorities by BJA that the export costs of jute and jute products was increased with the introducing of transport based on container system and the exporters are to pay the enhanced rate of transport cost. As a result, export of jute and jute products from Mongla port has fallen short. Besides this, the shipment charge of each 20 feet of a container is at present 110 to 120 US dollars from Chittagang to Sunghi in China. But it was so far 280 to 300 US dollars from Mongla Port to Sunghi. Not only that but also the exporters are to pay at present 383 US dollars as rent of PIL container and its staffing charge from Mongla port to Sunghi port. This has created a great hindrance for increasing the export of goods from this port to else where.
