Photo: BSS

KHULNA, June 23, 2025(BSS) - The newly built modern steel silo for wheat storage at the Maheshwarpasha food warehouse in Daulatpur here is expected to open in July, as about 98 percent of the construction work is complete, according to officials.

Located on the bank of the Bhairab River in the city, the project cost around Tk 356 crore and was jointly implemented by Bangladesh's Max Group and the renowned Turkish company Al-Tuntash. 

According to the project sources, the construction of this modern steel silo in Khulna began on January 12, 2022, under the Modern Food Storage Facility Project.

The project was jointly funded by the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank. The silo can store up to 76,200 metric tons of wheat, with its quality maintained for three years. The storage process is entirely automated and contact-free, using six technologically advanced bins, each with a capacity of 12,700 tons.

Project Director and Engineer Omar Faruk confirmed that the construction has been completed, and they are now awaiting power connection from the West Zone Power Company Ltd. Once electricity is available, machinery testing and commissioning will begin. 

The handover process to the Ministry of Food is expected to start likely in July, he added.

Faruk noted that the new facility will significantly strengthen food storage capacity in the Khulna region, especially for emergency response via river routes. 

The project was divided into two sections, the operational area and the residential and office area, with proper accommodations arranged for engineers and officials.

Turkish company Al-Tuntash supplied key materials and conducted some installation work, while Max Group completed around 75 percent of the work.

One of the major challenges of the project was constructing the jetty along the Bhairab River, a task accomplished using the steel pipe-catching method, where 42-foot-long pipes were driven in and reinforced with concrete, followed by snap finishing.

About 90 percent of the jetty's components were sourced from countries like Germany, Turkey, Thailand, and the USA. 

Each item was quality-checked by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and the Khulna University and Engineering Technology (KUET). Two advanced machines have been installed on the jetty for unloading cargo vessels, one for bulk ships and one for bagged goods, both imported from Germany and installed with the help of German technical experts.
Officials say completing and handing over such a project on time is a major achievement. The project's quality has been praised by the Food Secretary, Khulna's Deputy Commissioner, the Project Director, and World Bank representatives.

Talking to BSS, Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Khulna's Regional Food Controller, said, "Currently, 60 percent of imported wheat is offloaded at Chattogram Port and 40 percent at Mongla Port. Due to slow unloading at Mongla, costs are higher. Once this facility is operational, using lighter ships, SDs, and CSDs will reduce costs. Wheat stored in the steel silo will maintain its quality for three years, improving supply and storage efficiency."

"The facility will ensure smooth distribution of wheat across ten districts in Khulna and even to northern and southern regions like Barisal via river transport," he added. 

All preparation has taken to open the international standard modern silo, he said, adding that it will start activities any day in July.