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Published : 19 Apr 2026, 11:49 PM
Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said that Bangladesh will move to an open tender process if its national interest is not safeguarded in the proposed lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittaong Port to DP World.
After inspecting the NCT on Sunday, he reiterated that the country’s strategic interest will remain the foremost priority in any decision regarding the lease of the country’s key seaport terminal.
“[DP World] proposal carries significant positive potential. But where there is potential, there are also challenges. Any change brings both gains and losses. We are analysing all of it in detail,” he said.
“We are considering this proposal while ensuring that our national interest remains intact. If we proceed with DP World, we are also assessing how much investment they would bring and what benefits would be derived,” he added.
In response to a question, the minister said multiple procurement and partnership routes remain open.
“Open tender is one process, G2G is another, and PPP is also a recognised model. Any proposal must first be negotiated under the relevant framework.
“If our interest is not protected through that process, we can also go for an open tender,” he said.
Earlier, during the interim government period, port workers staged continuous strikes protesting the move to lease NCT to DP World, forcing authorities at the time to step back from finalising the agreement.
