Published : 11 Aug 2025, 04:48 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:38 PM
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun has said the government aims to appoint the “first” operator at three terminals of Chattogram Port by the end of this year.
Responding to questions on Sunday afternoon, he said: “The international tendering process is ongoing. We intend to appoint the first operator for all the port terminals, especially NCT, Laldia Char, and Bay Terminal, by the end of this year.”
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.
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.”
