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Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain has said Bangladesh is “lagging behind” in global port operations and must bring in international operators to raise efficiency.
On Friday, he visited the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in Chattogram, where he assessed its operations and highlighted the need for international involvement to “improve” performance.
He said that while current efforts have yielded some results, they are not enough to match the standards set by ports in countries such as Singapore and the United Kingdom.
According to Sakhawat, foreign operators can bring in the advanced technology and management systems that Bangladesh lacks, and without them, port performance will remain “limited”.
“A port only enters the international arena when a foreign operator is appointed,” he said.
He noted that the NCT had been operated by Saif Powertec Limited for nearly 18 years, and acknowledged their contribution.
The advisor, however, said the interim government is now aiming for higher efficiency through changes in management.
“No one stays in place permanently. Everyone is eventually replaced, so they too deserve appreciation,” he said.
On Jul 7, Chattogram Dry Dock Ltd, a state-owned enterprise under the Bangladesh Navy, took over the NCT operations on an interim basis for six months.
Plans are under discussion to hand over the terminal to Dubai-based DP World through international bidding.
Since the takeover, container handling at the NCT has increased by 30 percent, said Sakhawat.
He expressed confidence that the trend would continue under the next operator.
On the issue of port tariffs, he said: “The ministry has not raised the tariffs unilaterally. Inter-ministerial discussions have taken place, and talks have been held with port users.
“The hike has been made after consultations with all sides. Even now, compared with many of the world’s major ports, Chattogram’s tariffs remain significantly lower.”
Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali, commander of the Chattogram Naval Area, said: “In the 17 days since Dry Dock took over the NCT, the average turnaround time for ships has dropped by 10 hours, and container handling has increased by 30 percent.”