CPA inks deals with BIWTA, Navy for Pangaon container terminal and heavy-lift cargo jetty
Under the first deal, the CPA will take over long-term management of the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) and 48.24 acres of adjoining land on a lease basis from BIWTA
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has signed two separate agreements with the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Bangladesh Navy to strengthen Bangladesh's maritime infrastructure and reduce logistics costs.
The signing ceremonies were held yesterday (10 September) at the BIWTA headquarters in Dhaka in the presence of Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, said a press release issued by CPA.
Under the first deal, the CPA will take over long-term management of the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) and 48.24 acres of adjoining land on a lease basis from BIWTA.
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Effective from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2035, the agreement includes an initial 10-year lease with annual renewals, with an overall contract validity of 30 years.
The move follows recommendations from a ministry-formed committee and a tripartite meeting involving the Shipping Ministry, BIWTA and CPA. Currently, 95% of cargo from Chattogram Port is transported by road, straining highways and pushing up costs.
CPA's management of Pangaon ICT is expected to encourage safer, cheaper river-based cargo transport. The authority also plans to establish a free cotton zone at Pangaon to attract businesses and promote trade.
In a separate agreement, the CPA partnered with the Bangladesh Navy to construct a 240-metre-long heavy-lift cargo jetty with backup facilities at the Laldia-2 area of Chattogram Port. Designed to support a load capacity of five tonnes per square metre, this will be the country's first dedicated facility for handling heavy cargo.
CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk said the project was in line with the government's decision to delegate the work to the Navy under Public Procurement Rules.
The ceremonies were attended by Shipping Ministry Senior Secretary Mohammad Yusuf, CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa, Rear Admiral (retd) Anwar Hossain representing the Navy, and CPA Member (Engineering) Commodore Kawsar Rashid, along with project directors and senior officials.
The CPA said these agreements mark a step forward in modernising port facilities, improving efficiency, and promoting innovative maritime solutions.
