Ctg port’s 3 terminals to be handed over to foreign operators by year-end

The interim government is working to hand over three terminals of the Chattogram port by 31 December, said Bangladesh Investment Development Authority’s (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun on Sunday during an exchange with reporters.

He made the remark after inaugurating an agent desk at Gate No 4 of the port. The terminals to be handed over are New Mooring Terminal (NTC), Laldia Terminal and Bay Terminal.

The tendering process is ongoing, and the government will submit documents only to the top bidder to take the country’s leading port to a commendable position in the world, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud said.

Many other reform works are ongoing at Chattogram port and hopefully the its capacity would increase four-five times by 2030, added the BIDA chief.

Ashik said, “RSGT is the first international port terminal operator to come to Bangladesh. The experience the country has had with RSGT has not been entirely satisfactory. They have faced many complications here. One major reason is that we have never dealt with international port operators from our side.”

Citing CDDL as a positive example, he said: “When I visited in April-May, I was asked why we insist on changing the operator when a local operator is performing well. Now we have changed the operator and proven it.

“In fact, we ourselves don’t know how good the best possible operation can be. We have not yet determined the maximum possible volume this port can handle.”

He noted that handling up to 1.9 million TEUs through Chattogram Port is feasible, saying: “Last year, our highest record was 1.3 million TEUs (annual container handling). With technology, best practices, and global standards, this number can rise further.”

Since Jul 7, the Navy-run Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) has been operating the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port. Previously, private operator Saif Powertech Ltd managed this terminal.

Government staff have at various times expressed their intention to hand over port operations to foreign operators, particularly the UAE-based company DP World.

However, this proposal has faced strong objections in several quarters.

Currently, the Saudi Arabia-based company Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) operates the Patenga Container Terminal at the port. It has not been able to handle the container volume at the desired level.