Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain. File Photo

DHAKA, July 2, 2025 (BSS) – Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain today said the government has recommended Bangladesh Navy to operate Chittagong Port New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) for the next six months.
 
He revealed this while exchanging views with journalists after a meeting on Chittagong Port Management at the ministry’s meeting room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a ministry release.

The adviser said that the Chittagong Port Authority was given the authority to operate the Chittagong Port NCT in the Advisory Council meeting yesterday.

Mentioning that the Chittagong Port Authority will appoint an operator to operate the NCT terminal, he said the government is considering it appropriate to assign the responsibility to the Bangladesh Navy to operate the NCT for the next 6 months.

However, in this case, there will be no harm of jobs for those working there, he said, adding if necessary, Bangladesh Navy can also take cooperation from those who have previously operated the terminal.

Stating that the responsibility of operating the port will not be entrusted to a foreign company by sacrificing the country's interests, the adviser said no agreement has been signed with any foreign company regarding Chittagong Port so far.

He assured the countrymen that the current government will never make any anti-national agreement, saying the government is taking timely steps to improve the living standards of the people in the interest of the overall development of the country.

Various seaports of developed countries including Europe are being efficiently managed by DP World, AD Port and other global port management companies.

The adviser observed more dynamism needs to be brought to the activities of Chittagong Port in order to increase the country's import and export trade.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is working to upgrade the operational activities of the port to international standards, he said.

Initial discussions are also underway with Dubai Port World regarding the operation of the NCT Terminal, he said, adding that they will also operate the Chittagong Port for a specified period through an agreement similar to other developed ports in the world under the CPA. 

The overall authority or ownership will be in the hands of the CPA, he said.

“If an international standard operator is appointed, the port's mobility and capacity will increase. The time for unloading goods will be reduced, and at the same time, large ships of the world will arrive at the port. New shipping routes will be created. Ship fares will be reduced,” he noted.

The adviser said where four to five thousand TEUs of containers are currently being handled, it will increase to six thousand if they are assigned. 

Due to it, the annual TEUs of container handling at the port will increase by 15-20 percent, he added.

At that time, adviser said the port's other agreements with Saif Powertech will remain unchanged.

Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, Chairman of Chittagong Port, was present.