Agreement to appoint operators at Ctg Port terminals likely in Dec: Bida chairman
Regarding the performance of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), which manages the Patenga Container Terminal, the Bida chief described Bangladesh’s experience as “unfortunate"
The government aims to finalise agreements in December this year to appoint at least one operator for the Chattogram Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), Laldia Container Terminal, and Bay Terminal, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud said today (10 August).
Speaking after inaugurating the Shipping and Logistics Online Desk, Ashik Chowdhury noted that since Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) took over the operation of the NCT, the company has increased container handling by about 30% within just one month — a significant achievement for both CDDL and the port.
The Shipping and Logistics Online Desk has been set up by Magnetism Tech Limited in collaboration with the Chattogram Port Authority, at Gate-4 of the NCT.
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Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman was present as the special guest at the event.
Regarding the performance of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), which manages the Patenga Container Terminal, the Bida chief described Bangladesh's experience as "unfortunate."
"RSGT is the first private operator to enter Bangladesh. They operate several ports abroad, but not on the scale of global giants like DP World or APM, which have operations in 60–70 countries. From the start, RSGT faced various complications, partly because the Bangladesh government had never dealt with an international terminal operator before," he explained.
He further said the agreement process encountered delays, and they are still struggling with technical issues. "The cargo volume they expected has also fallen short."
Addressing concerns over RSGT's local borrowing, Ashik Chowdhury said, "Whether they take a loan from Bangladesh or from abroad is their own financial decision. If they borrow locally, the repayment will remain within the country."
Regarding the change of operator at NCT, he praised CDDL's performance and said it proved that operational improvements were possible through change.
Ashik Chowdhury confirmed that an international tender process is currently underway for NCT, aimed at bringing in technical expertise and global operational standards.
