Bangladesh is a maritime nation with 207,000 square kilometers of sea, abundant with living and non-living resources, which is 1.4 times greater than its total land area. Sea transportation plays a vital role for economic and commercial activities in Bangladesh for e.g 85% of the export and import trade in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh hosts one of the world’s busiest and most important shipping lanes which are responsible for supplying the bulk of its Middle Eastern crude oil to East Asia. These shipping lanes connect Bangladesh with other countries for direct shipping. The import and export trade business of Bangladesh is largely dependent on the ports of the country. These seaports which are run by the ports authority of Bangladesh are operated by the Government of Bangladesh.
The river ports of Bangladesh are presently controlled by two organizations: Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC). And there are a total of 22 complete river ports in Bangladesh (as per the statistics of BIWTA), which have the necessary arrangements for loading and unloading passengers and goods to land motorized land vessels.
1. Chattogram (Chittagong) Port
Operational Capacity: Chattogram Port has a handling capacity of over 3 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) annually, making it one of the busiest ports in South Asia.
Expansion Projects: Currently, the port is expanding with projects like the Bay Terminal and a new multipurpose terminal to accommodate larger vessels and increase capacity. The Bay Terminal is expected to reduce congestion and allow the docking of larger vessels that currently need to anchor offshore.
Strategic Role: As Bangladesh’s primary gateway, it plays a crucial role in supporting the country’s textile industry, which is the backbone of the Bangladeshi economy. It’s also a critical transshipment point for goods heading to and from northeastern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Challenges: Despite its importance, Chattogram faces challenges like congestion, outdated equipment in some areas, and limited draft depth, which restricts the size of vessels that can dock.
2. Mongla Port
Operational Capacity: Mongla Port has been increasing its cargo handling capacity and currently handles around 100,000 TEUs per year, though it has the potential for further growth.
Development Initiatives: Mongla is undergoing modernization, with projects funded by the government and international bodies. Plans include dredging to deepen the channel, constructing new terminals, and enhancing road and rail connectivity to improve access.
Strategic Importance: Mongla serves as an alternative route to relieve pressure from Chattogram and is crucial for industries in southwestern Bangladesh. The port’s proximity to the Sundarbans mangrove forest poses environmental concerns, requiring careful handling of hazardous cargo.
Regional Significance: Mongla is strategically positioned for increased trade with India’s northeastern states, as well as for improved connectivity with Bhutan and Nepal, enhancing regional trade under the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) initiative.
3. Payra Port
Operational Capacity: Currently, Payra operates on a limited scale with a primary focus on bulk cargo, but expansion plans aim to make it capable of handling over 1 million TEUs annually in the future.
Development Phases: Payra Port is being developed in phases, with initial phases focused on dredging and building essential facilities. The port is also constructing a coal terminal and LNG terminal to support Bangladesh’s growing energy demands.
Future Vision: When fully operational, Payra aims to become Bangladesh’s main deep-sea port, capable of handling larger vessels and reducing the need for transshipment via other ports in the region. It will also support the country’s industrial growth, including large-scale projects in the southern economic zone.
Investment and Partnerships: The port development involves partnerships with countries like China and the Netherlands, with significant investment in infrastructure and equipment. Additionally, it’s expected to facilitate direct maritime routes between Bangladesh and key trading partners across Asia and beyond.
4.Port of Dhaka
The Port of Dhaka, also known as Sadarghat Port, is an important river port in Bangladesh, located on the Buriganga River in the heart of Dhaka city. Though smaller than Bangladesh’s major seaports, it is a critical hub for domestic transportation and plays a vital role in moving goods and passengers across the country’s extensive river network.
Location: Situated in Dhaka, the capital and economic center of Bangladesh, on the banks of the Buriganga River. This strategic location provides access to key domestic regions.
Primary Function: Sadarghat is primarily a river port and serves as a hub for inland water transport. It handles a large volume of domestic cargo and passenger traffic, linking Dhaka with other parts of the country, especially the southwestern and northern regions.
Passenger Traffic: Known as one of the busiest river ports in the world, Sadarghat serves thousands of passengers daily. Passenger ferries operate from here, connecting Dhaka with cities like Barisal, Khulna, and Chandpur.
Cargo Handling: While the port’s main function is passenger transport, it also handles domestic cargo. Goods transported via the port typically include agricultural products, construction materials, food supplies, and consumer goods moving between Dhaka and rural areas.
Infrastructure: The port has numerous terminals for both passenger and cargo vessels, but space is limited and congestion is a frequent challenge. The port area is densely populated, so expansion is constrained.
5.Port of Pangaon
The Port of Pangaon, also known as the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (PICT), is a specialized river port in Bangladesh. It’s located on the Buriganga River near Dhaka, in the area of Keraniganj, and is operated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in partnership with the Chittagong Port Authority. Pangaon Port was established primarily to ease congestion at Chattogram Port and streamline the transport of containerized goods to and from the capital city, Dhaka.
Location: Situated near Dhaka in Keraniganj, on the Buriganga River, the port is strategically positioned to serve the capital city and reduce pressure on Chattogram Port.
Primary Function: Pangaon Port primarily operates as an inland container terminal (ICT), dedicated to the handling of containerized cargo, facilitating the movement of goods between Chattogram and Dhaka by river. This reduces dependency on road and rail transport, which often face congestion issues.
Handling Capacity: Pangaon Port has a container handling capacity of about 116,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) annually.
Facilities: The terminal includes modern container handling equipment such as cranes and forklifts. It has specialized berths for loading and unloading containers and a container storage yard.
Containerized Goods: Commonly transported goods include apparel, electronics, food items, and other consumer products, catering primarily to the import and export needs of industries around Dhaka.
Additional Port Developments and Future Prospects
Matarbari Deep-Sea Port: Located near Cox’s Bazar, Matarbari is a deep-sea port under construction with the aim of handling larger vessels that cannot currently be serviced at Chattogram or Mongla. It is expected to be a strategic asset, with potential for energy imports like coal and LNG.
Inland Connectivity: To support these seaports, Bangladesh is investing in improving its inland transport networks, including road, rail, and river routes. Enhanced connectivity is essential to maximize the efficiency of cargo movement between ports and inland industrial zones.
Environmental Considerations: Given the proximity of some ports to ecologically sensitive areas like the Sundarbans, strict environmental safeguards are being prioritized. International support and environmentally sustainable practices are being integrated into port operations, especially at Mongla and Payra.
Overall, Bangladesh’s port infrastructure is rapidly developing, with investments aimed at increasing capacity, easing congestion, and positioning the country as a major logistics hub in South Asia. This will further integrate Bangladesh into regional and global supply chains, supporting its economic growth ambitions.
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