Propaganda over port affairs must be avoided in national interest: Advisor Sakhawat

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping, has stated that the Chattogram Port is a national asset of Bangladesh and will remain under the country’s control.

He made the remarks on Friday (July 25) while speaking to journalists after inaugurating an international-standard chemical shed at Chattogram Port.

"Chattogram Port is our port—our asset. If anyone spreads misleading propaganda, I hope they will refrain from doing so for the sake of the nation. We want to move forward, enter the global arena, and not remain confined within ourselves," he said.

Commenting on recent discussions surrounding the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), the adviser stated, "We’ve heard many opinions about the NCT. Those who have been working there for the past 17–18 years have not done a bad job—in fact, they’ve performed well. But now we aim for even greater efficiency, which requires international technology and expertise."

He continued, "Currently, many containers loaded here are destined for transshipment through Singapore. Most ports in Singapore are privately operated. If we want to compete internationally, we need to increase our efficiency. That’s why we need international operators. But let’s not forget—there’s a difference between an operator and a controller. The control will remain in our hands."

Dr. Sakhawat also noted, "During the interim period, we’ve handed over NCT operations to Dry Dock Ltd., which is linked to the Navy. This has led to an average growth of 30%, which is a significant achievement. I hope we can maintain this momentum."

In response to a question, he clarified, "The port tariff adjustment was made in consultation with stakeholders. It wasn’t a unilateral decision by the ministry. Tariffs hadn’t been revised since 1986, while the value of money has significantly declined since then. Compared to other major global ports, our tariffs are still low—even lower than those of Mongla Port."