The New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong port will be operated under domestic management for six months before it is handed over to foreign operators, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has said.
The policy-level approval regarding the matter came at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday, after which Salehuddin briefed reporters on the matter.
After the meeting, Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain also spoke to the press.
He said: "The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will decide who operates the terminal. However, there will be no tender process; instead, it will follow a direct purchase method and operate for six months. A final decision will be made on Wednesday."
A local private organization has been operating the terminal for the past 17 years. The current contract with Saif Powertec Limited, which manages it, expires on July 6.
According to sources at the Ministry of Shipping, from July 7, the Bangladesh Navy may be given the responsibility to operate the terminal. With the support of the port authority, the navy may operate the terminal for the next six months.
The terminal has five jetties. These five jetties can accommodate four seagoing vessels and one vessel operating on inland waterways.
This is the largest terminal in Bangladesh and handles loading and unloading containers from ships, as well as various other operational tasks.
Previously, a meeting of the Ministry of Shipping on June 18 had decided to operate the terminal under the port's own management.
For this, the port authority sent a letter to the ministry seeking government approval for an expenditure of Tk42 crore for six months at Tk7 crore per month.
However, the port later backtracked from this decision.
On Saturday, at a meeting between Sakhawat and port officials, a policy decision was made to operate the terminal through the navy with assistance from the port. That meeting was held in the conference room of the port building.
Under the Awami League regime, the process began to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal to DP World of the United Arab Emirates.
The interim government is moving that process forward. It is expected that an agreement will be signed in November.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate, is acting as the transaction adviser or mediator on behalf of the Bangladesh government in this project.
Until the agreement is signed, the terminal may remain under the operation of the Bangladesh Navy.
