The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has signed a deal with private operator Saif Powertech, giving it the job of operating two jetties at the New-mooring Container Terminal.
CPA Chairman Nizamuddin Ahmed and Saif Powertech Managing Director Tarafdar Ruhul Amin signed the deal on Thursday, regarding the operation of Jetty 4 and 5 for the next two years. The company would handle 701,400 units of container for Tk49.64 crore.
CPA sources said two other companies, MH Chowdhury Shipping owned by Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and A and J Traders owned by lawmaker Ekramul Karim of Noakhali, competed with Saif Powertech for operating the terminal.
In December 2007, the terminal project was initiated at the cost of Tk582 crore, while the tender procedure for the appointment of operator was initiated on August 11, 2008.
The authorities sold tender schedules to four foreign companies, which were found pre-qualified, in July 2009; however, the process was postponed in February 2010 as the Shipping Ministry decided to re-invite pre-qualification tender.
According to port sources, one of the pre-qualified companies filed objection to the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) questioning the transparency of the process, following which the CPTU issued an order in 2012 to suspend the tender procedure.
Port sources also said they took a fresh initiative to operate the terminal after nullifying the earlier tender procedure, as the court vacated the stay order on May 8, 2014.