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In a major policy decision aimed at elevating national maritime efficiency to global standards, the government approved a 15-year concession on Thursday (October 1) to hand over operations of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port to an international port operator. The decision was formally finalized by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs following extensive multi-agency evaluations and bilateral negotiations with Dubai-based global logistics operators. As the premier maritime facility of Bangladesh, the NCT handles more than 40 percent of the port's total container throughput, which reached 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units in the preceding fiscal year. Built in 2007 at an investment of approximately 2,000 crore taka, the terminal features five specialized jetties and houses 14 of Chattogram Port's 18 quayside gantry cranes. Maritime trade analysts emphasized that transferring terminal management to an international operator will substantially enhance cargo velocity, reduce vessel dwell times, and integrate Chattogram Port into elite global shipping networks.
The strategic handover process gained decisive momentum following the fourth joint public-private partnership platform meeting between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates in Dubai earlier this year. In June, the Chattogram Port Authority established a dedicated 12-member administrative support committee to finalize the operational parameters, tariff structures, and workforce guarantees under the agreement. The NCT is currently managed by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, a state-owned enterprise supervised by the Bangladesh Navy, which assumed operational control to stabilize port performance during previous administrative transitions. Under the approved framework, the foreign operator will deploy state-of-the-art terminal operating software, upgrade yard handling equipment, and invest significant private capital to automate gate operations. This appointment represents the fourth foreign terminal operator engaged across Bangladesh's maritime ecosystem, following successful international concessions at Patenga, Laldia, and Pangaon terminals.
Under the rigorous contractual terms approved by the cabinet, the international operator will be required to adhere to strict operational key performance indicators governing container turnaround and crane productivity. The agreement mandates an average container handling speed of at least 25 moves per crane per hour, representing a marked improvement over existing operational averages. The Ministry of Shipping affirmed that ownership of all permanent civil infrastructure, quayside assets, and maritime land remains firmly vested with the Chattogram Port Authority throughout the concession period. Furthermore, the contract incorporates strict labor protection clauses requiring the incoming operator to retain existing skilled port workers and provide technical training in advanced logistics automation. The revenue-sharing framework guarantees the port authority substantial annual royalty payments alongside volume-based throughput tariffs, ensuring a steady stream of non-tax revenue for the national exchequer.
The landmark concession has generated broad optimism across the export-import community and international trade associations while prompting calls for diligent regulatory oversight. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and major apparel shipping councils welcomed the development, noting that reducing vessel turnaround times by even 24 hours saves millions of dollars in maritime demurrage charges. Foreign shipping lines operating feeder routes between Chattogram, Singapore, and Colombo expressed enthusiasm regarding the imminent introduction of automated berth planning and digital container tracking. However, local port labor unions urged the port authority to maintain strict oversight to ensure that domestic workers' wage structures and safety benefits are rigorously honored under private management. Maritime logistics researchers observed that modernizing NCT's five berths is indispensable if Chattogram Port is to handle projected cargo growth as Bangladesh expands regional transshipment links with Nepal and Bhutan.
Government officials affirmed that the concession will be executed with absolute transparency to establish a benchmark for future public-private partnerships in national transport infrastructure. Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hussain stated, "Handing over NCT operations to a globally reputed operator under a 15-year performance-driven contract will drastically reduce container congestion, eliminate turnaround delays, and elevate Chattogram Port into a premier regional logistics hub." Chattogram Port Authority officials confirmed that a comprehensive transition roadmap will be implemented over the next ninety days to ensure seamless operational continuity without disrupting daily cargo handling. Maritime analysts concluded that internationalizing port operations directly enhances Bangladesh's export competitiveness on the eve of global trade integration. The government reiterated its commitment to modernizing the nation's transport corridors to support sustained economic expansion.
