Port of Mongla

The Port of Mongla is the second busiest seaport of Bangladesh. It is located in Bagerhat District in the southwestern part of the country; and lies 62 km north of the Bay of Bengal coastline. Mongla is one of the major ports of the Bengal delta. Mongla is located 48 km from the city of Khulna, which is a regional industrial center. Due to increasing congestion in Bangladesh's largest port in Chittagong, many international shipping companies have turned to Mongla as an alternative.Mongla is a gateway for tourist ships traveling to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region, including the Sundarbans and the Mosque City of Bagerhat. The port also hosts the Mongla Export Processing Zone (Mongla EPZ).HistoryThe port was founded in 1950 to serve the southwestern region of East Bengal. It was originally known as Chalna Port.GeographyIt was formerly located at Chalna, about 11 miles upstream on the Pasur River but it is now located 48 km south of Khulna city, as established on 11 December 1954. The Port is surrounded and protected by the Sundarban mangrove forest. The port is situated at the confluence of the Pasur River and the Mongla River. It lies about 62 miles north of the Bay of Bengal.