The government has recommended Bangladesh Navy to operate Chittagong Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) for the next six months, said Shipping and Labor and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain.
He said this while exchanging views with journalists after a meeting on Chittagong Port Management at the meeting room of the Ministry of Shipping at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon.
Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman was present at the time.
The adviser said that the Chittagong Port Authority has been given authority to operate Chittagong Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in the Advisory Council meeting. The Chittagong Port Authority will appoint an operator to operate the NCT terminal. The government thinks it appropriate to assign Bangladesh Navy with responsibility to operate the NCT for the next six months. However, in this case, there will be no loss of jobs for those working there. If necessary, the Bangladesh Navy can also seek cooperation from those who have the experience of operating the terminal previously.
Stating that the responsibility of operating the port will not be entrusted to a foreign company by sacrificing the interests of the country, the adviser said that no agreement has been signed with any foreign company regarding Chittagong Port till date. Assuring the countrymen that the interim government will never make any agreement against the country, he said, the government is taking timely steps to improve the living standards of people in the interests of the overall development of the country. Various seaports of developed countries including Europe are being efficiently managed by DP World, AD Port and other globalport management companies.
He further said that order to boost the country's import and export trade, it is necessary to bring more dynamism to the activities of Chittagong Port. The Chittagong Port Authority is working to upgrade the operational activities of the port to international standards. Initial discussions are also underway with Dubai Port World regarding the operation of the NCT Terminal. They will also operate the Chittagong Port for a specified period through an agreement similar to other developed ports in the world under the CPA. The overall authority or ownership will be in the hands of the Chittagong Authority. If an international standard operator is appointed, the port's mobility and capacity will increase. The time for unloading goods will be reduced, at the same time, large ships of the world will arrive at the port, new shipping routes will be created. Ship fares will be reduced. Where four to five thousand TEUs of container handling is currently being done, it will increase to six thousand. That is, the annual TEUs of container handling at the port will increase by 15%-20%. At that time, Adviser Saif said that the port's other agreements with Powertech will remain unchanged.
