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The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is set to implement, upgrade, and operate four major terminal projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, officials say, aiming to elevate the port to international standards and enhance its capacity for future growth.
On August 10, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun confirmed that international tendering processes for several Chattogram port terminals are underway.
"We intend to appoint at least the first operator at the New-mooring Container Terminal (NCT), Laldia Container Terminal, and Bay Terminal by the end of December this year," he said.
The initiatives follow earlier efforts to modernise the port. On May 14, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus visited Chattogram port, highlighting plans to engage leading global port operators.
"The enhanced port facilities will attract foreign investment and boost Bangladesh's economy. We are inviting the top global port management companies to upgrade operations and turn Chattogram port into a world-class facility," he said.
CPA sources say that the four projects to be implemented under the PPP model include the Laldia Container Terminal, Bay Terminal (Terminals 1 and 2), the New NCT including the Overflow Container Yard (OCY), and the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), which will cover equipment, operation, and maintenance.
The government has decided to appoint foreign operators for the PCT, NCT, and the two Bay Terminal projects.
According to CPA officials, the Bay Terminal projects are currently under feasibility study, with the government of Singapore and Dubai-based DP World involved for Terminals 1 and 2 under G2G (Government-to-Government) guidelines.
The Laldia Container Terminal feasibility study is being conducted by IFC (International Finance Corporation) in collaboration with the government of Denmark. Similarly, the NCT is under review for implementation with DP World under G2G guidelines with the UAE.
Following the expiry of the NCT operational contract with SaifPowertec Limited on July 6, the Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), managed by the Bangladesh Navy, took over operations from July 7.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) began operating the newly built PCT on June 10 under a 22-year PPP-G2G concession agreement, marking the first time a foreign company has operated a maritime port in Bangladesh.
The government has also signed agreements with Singapore's PSA for Bay Terminal operations, while Denmark's APM Terminals - part of Maersk - plans to build an automated, environmentally friendly Laldia Terminal that will significantly increase the port's container-handling capacity.
Authorities say the PPP-driven expansion of Chattogram port is expected to modernise infrastructure, attract global investment, and strengthen Bangladesh's position as a key maritime hub in South Asia.
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