More than ten years after Ashuganj Port in Brahmanbari was declared a port, work on the cargo terminal has started. At least 10 lakh metric tonnes of goods are anticipated to be loaded and unloaded each year once the international-standard river port is finished. Additionally, it will be crucial in promoting international trade.
The Ashuganj freight terminal, which is located close to the former ferry ghat on the Meghna River, was designated as a river port in 2010, according to port officials and traders . Fertilizers, rods, cement, coal, and food grains like rice, maize, and lentils are the main items loaded and unloaded at the port.
Because there were no contemporary facilities, two makeshift jetties were used for years to handle thousands of metric tonnes of merchandise. India first used this port to move large electrical equipment from Haldia Port in Kolkata in 2011.
Due to the absence of truck yards, covered storage, and adequate side roads in the vicinity, local traders have long called for the port to be modernized. Due to these problems, rain and sunlight have harmed priceless imported and exported commodities. Local traders have expressed satisfaction with the Ashuganj River Port modernization program, despite its delay.
They anticipate that traders from 12 nearby districts, including the more expansive Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions in eastern Bangladesh, will profit from the port once it is open. Additionally, it will greatly lessen the logistical difficulties associated with exporting domestic goods.
A contemporary jetty will significantly improve trade activities, according to Ashuganj Port trader Muhammad Zakir. He was hopeful that the port would draw in foreign goods, which would lead to job prospects for the locals.
Three additional jetties will be part of the new port, along with amenities like open storage, storage rooms, a welfare office, a restaurant, a gate and employment office, a substation, a pump house, restroom blocks, and an approach gate. Up to 150,000 tonnes of goods can be handled and stored at the port each year thanks to the upgrades.