Swiss logistics giant to operate Pangaon Inland Container Terminal

MEDLOG, a Switzerland-based world leader in inland logistics, will to manage and operate the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (PICT) near Dhaka for 22 years.

A concession agreement was signed to this end between Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and MEDLOG Bangladesh Private Ltd on Monday (November 17) in Dhaka.

CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S.M. Moniruzzaman and MEDLOG Bangladesh Private Ltd Managing Director A.T.M. Anisul Millat signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

Brigadier General (Rtd) M Sakhawat Hussain, who was present at the signing ceremony as the chief guest, called the agreement signing day “a red-letter day for Bangladesh”.

He said PICT was built as a beautiful, strategically located facility, yet it became almost abandoned from the very beginning and was sustaining loss every year.

According to him, importers did not want to use the terminal because the logistics were difficult, the freight advantage was unclear, customs clearance was slow, and the FOB documentation rarely mentioned Pangaon.

The advisor said the construction cost of the terminal was about Tk 155 crore, and in the last 12 years the accumulated operational loss reached Tk 165 crore.  “The partnership with MEDLOG has changed that reality. MEDLOG is bringing a new beginning to this terminal,” he added.

Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli in his speech said the signing of the agreement is very significant.

“It reflects the confidence of a new foreign investor in Bangladesh's economic potential. It is timely as Bangladesh is preparing for the upcoming LDC graduation and is actively pursuing more FDI and strengthened its ports and logistics sector to enhance its business competitiveness.”

Commenting on the new concession, MEDLOG Bangladesh Managing Director A.T.M. Anisul Millat said, “The Pangaon Inland Container Terminal holds immense potential to boost economic growth and set new standards in logistics efficiency. By applying MEDLOG’s global expertise and executing our strategic plan, we can deliver sustainable growth and position Bangladesh as a regional leader in inland logistics.”

By leveraging MEDLOG’s operational excellence, technology, and investment, the project will stimulate trade, enhance supply chain resilience and elevate the Bangladeshi logistics sector to a globally competitive level, he added.

Shipping Secretary Dr Nurun Nahar Chowdhury and CPA Chairman S.M. Moniruzzaman also spoke on the occasion.

MEDLOG SAYS the agreement on the management of PICT, which is strategically located on the Buriganga River near Dhaka and just three kilometres from the high-speed Dhaka–Mawa–Bhanga Expressway, marks the start of a dynamic new chapter for both MEDLOG and the logistics and trade infrastructure in Bangladesh.

The terminal has a specific focus on efficient first and last-mile delivery into Bangladesh’s hinterland and will establish MEDLOG as a key player in Bangladesh’s inland transport network. 

Under the new concession, MEDLOG SA will oversee through its SPC MEDLOG Bangladesh Private Ltd the operations, supply and automation at PICT, bringing global expertise and advanced technology to optimise inland logistics and drive sustainable growth.

MEDLOG has plans to expand the terminal’s facilities to support growing trade volumes in the region and will offer an annual handling capacity of 160,000 TEUs.

The Swiss logistics giant says at the signing ceremony that they to strengthen multimodal connectivity, they will charter inland barges from PICT to connect Pangaon with other river terminals and seaports.

According to the company, barges will serve oversized project cargo, while trucks, covered vans and reefer vehicles will offer additional distribution channels across the region. Enhanced intermodal transportation will minimise uncertainty associated with inland cargo logistics and guarantee lead time assurance, in a major advancement for local importers and exporters, they say.

Facilities at PICT will include two mobile harbour cranes, reefer connections and 24-hour power supply, an empty container storage, repair yard and an expanded Container Freight Station (CFS) with up to 10,000 sqm for stuffing and stripping. Land adjacent to the terminal will be developed for cotton warehousing and dry storage distribution, creating additional value for importers and exporters.

In a move for trade facilitation, PICT will provide a Through Bill of Lading (BL) facility, allowing cargo to move seamlessly from international ports to Pangaon under a single document, to significantly streamline logistics and customs processing. The terminal will also support the Green Channel initiative, designed to fast-track logistics by speeding up customs clearance.