Foreign firms invited to modernise Chittagong Port, Minister Rabiul says

Bangladesh is turning to global port operators and foreign investment to shake up the management of Chittagong Port.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam on Thursday said the country can no longer afford to leave its maritime potential underused.

The government has opened the way for foreign companies with expertise in container and port handling to help overcome what Rabiul described as the port’s “existing state of stagnation”.

“The management of ships, containers and cargo centred around Chittagong Port was in a stagnant state; it was not up to the required standard,” he said.

Pointing to PCT, NCT, CCT and the Laldia and Bay Terminal projects, Rabiul said foreign investment and technological advances were needed to raise capacity.

“We want to increase container loading and unloading capacity and compete with the major ports in the developed world,” he said.

Some global companies have already established operations in Bangladesh, while others are in the process of doing so.

Rabiul was speaking at the Bangladesh Marine Academy on Thursday at an event marking World Maritime Day and the academy’s 64th founding anniversary.

He said economic hubs were emerging around Chittagong and Mongla ports as special economic zones attracted foreign investment, but warned that poor services and inefficiency could undermine the entire effort.