HC halts Ctg port's licensing process for new berth, ship handling operators

The Chattogram Port Authority's initiative to issue new licences for berth and ship handling operators has been halted for three months following a High Court order last week.

An HC bench of Justices Fahmida Quader and Mohammad Ashif Hasan passed the order on 26 October after hearing a writ petition filed by Khondker Fazle Akbar Murad, CEO of MH Chowdhury Ltd, one of the existing berth operators, according to court sources.

The court also issued a rule asking why the port authority's notice for new operators – signed by its director (traffic) on 30 September 2025 – should not be declared illegal. The respondents, including the shipping ministry secretary, joint secretary, Chattogram Port Authority chairman, director (transport), and secretary, have been asked to reply within four weeks.

According to port officials, the licensing initiative aimed to foster competition and improve efficiency amid rising cargo and container volumes.

"When only two lakh tonnes of goods were handled decades ago, the same stevedores operated here. Now we handle about 13 crore tonnes of cargo and 3.3 million TEUs of containers annually, yet the same operators remain," a senior port official told TBS.

Under the proposed Ship Handling Operator and Berth Operator Licensing Policy 2025, the port authority had invited applications from qualified firms with relevant experience, manpower, and equipment for cargo and container handling.

Applicants were required to provide proof of technical capacity, agreements with ship owners or agents, tax and VAT registration, trade license, worker insurance, and other documentation, along with a non-refundable pay order of Tk1 lakh in favour of the Chattogram Port Authority.

The submission deadline was 31 October, and several applications had already been received, according to port sources.

Currently, about 50 berth and ship handling operators are active at the country's largest seaport.