The Advisory Council Committee on economic affairs in a meeting on Tuesday approved a proposal in principle from the Ministry of Shipping to operate the New Mooring container terminal for six months by an operator under the direct purchase method.
Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, who presided over the meeting at the secretariat in the capital, told reporters that the interim government commitee had approved the shipping ministry proposal for the management of the country鈥檚 main container terminal for a limited period.
The shipping ministry proposal sought to allow the Chittagong Port Authority to select an operator directly until the appointment of a contractor through international tender over the next six months.
Shipping adviser retired Brigadier General M Shakhawat Hossain, who was present at the meeting, told reporters that the temporary operator was likely to be appointed today.
The Bangladesh Navy is likely to be appointed as the ad hoc operator, said officials of the shipping ministry. 聽聽聽聽
The New Mooring container terminal under the CPA, responsible for handling around 90 per cent of the sea-borne containers, began operation in 2007 with Saif Powertec Ltd, a local company, appointed to operate two jetties -- No 2 and 3 -- of the terminal since May 2007 on an ad hoc basis.
The contract with the Saif Powertec Ltd will expire on July 6.
On May 23, 2023, a similar committee in a meeting approved in principle the appointment of an international operator to run the New Mooring terminal under the Public-Private-Partnership initiative.聽聽
Since 2020, the United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Port World has been expressing interest to invest $1 billion in the construction and management of container terminals and container supply-chain infrastructure.
Participating in the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 in last April, DP World chair and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem also highlighted its interest in exploring investment opportunities in Bangladesh, including a potential free trade zone in Matarbari.
Some 50 left-leaning political parties and socio-cultural organisations under the banner of Anti-Imperialism Patriotic People have already held a road march in the capital asking the interim government to refrain from leasing out the Chittagong Port to any foreign company.
The Chittagong Port is responsible for sending and receiving 80 per cent of the country鈥檚 exports and imports, accounting for over $110 billion in 2024.
The Advisory Council Committee also approved a proposal from the industries ministry not to implement the project 鈥楻ectification and Upgradation of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant and Establishment of Solid Waste Management鈥� at the Tannery Industrial Estate in Savar under the PPP policy.
In February 07, 2024, a similar committee decided to implement the project under the PPP method.