New Mooring Terminal to be operated by navy for 6 months before foreign handover

The New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port will be operated under Bangladesh Navy for the next six months before being officially handed over to a foreign operator.

The Economic Affairs Advisory Council Committee gave in-principle approval for this transition during a meeting held on Tuesday (July 1).

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed the decision, stating that the terminal is currently managed by local firm Saif Powertech Limited, whose contract expires on July 6. Following that, operational control is set to shift to the Bangladesh Navy, beginning July 7, under a six-month direct procurement arrangement.

"The interim management will not go through a traditional bidding process," said Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain. "The Chattogram Port Authority will decide on the Navy's role, and the final decision will be made on Wednesday."

NCT is the largest container terminal in the country, equipped with five jetties—four for ocean-going vessels and one for inland ships. It handles a significant volume of the nation's maritime container traffic, including loading, unloading, and transfer operations.

The move comes as part of a broader plan to hand over the terminal's long-term operation to DP World, a UAE-based global port operator. The process began under the previous Awami League government and is being continued by the current interim administration. A formal agreement with DP World is expected to be signed in November.

Earlier, on June 18, the Shipping Advisory Council had also given its initial approval for the plan, with a proposal to allocate Tk 42 crore for six months of interim operation. However, it was later decided that the Navy, supported by the Chattogram Port Authority, would temporarily oversee operations.

Saturday's meeting at the Port Building confirmed the Navy's role, solidifying the plan to maintain uninterrupted management of the terminal ahead of its foreign transition.