Chittagong Dry Dock Limited will soon run the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram port. The port authority secretary confirmed a contract gets signed this Sunday. The Bangladesh Navy operates this dry dock company. They will manage the terminal for six months under a direct deal. The company has already started taking over duties there.
The current operator Saif Powertec loses their contract on July 6. The government decided not to extend their deal. The old Awami League government wanted a foreign company to run this modern terminal. The interim government also tried bringing foreign operators but faced strong opposition. Critics argued against foreign control since taxpayers built the facility.
The port authority constructed this terminal back in 2007 for 400 crore taka. Several international companies showed interest and wanted to invest. The authority even announced global tenders for operators. However, government pressure forced them to cancel these tenders. The terminal sat unused despite being ready to operate.
After waiting seven years, the port authority spent thousands of crore from their budget to equip the terminal. They finally gave Saif Powertec the job of handling containers at the five jetties. This became the biggest terminal in the country. The company received several contract extensions over the years.
Political parties and port workers opposed foreign involvement. They said no outside investment was needed since public money already built and equipped everything. Senior government officials supported bringing foreign operators for better operations. The debate continues about the best way to run this important facility.
The current operator Saif Powertec loses their contract on July 6. The government decided not to extend their deal. The old Awami League government wanted a foreign company to run this modern terminal. The interim government also tried bringing foreign operators but faced strong opposition. Critics argued against foreign control since taxpayers built the facility.
The port authority constructed this terminal back in 2007 for 400 crore taka. Several international companies showed interest and wanted to invest. The authority even announced global tenders for operators. However, government pressure forced them to cancel these tenders. The terminal sat unused despite being ready to operate.
After waiting seven years, the port authority spent thousands of crore from their budget to equip the terminal. They finally gave Saif Powertec the job of handling containers at the five jetties. This became the biggest terminal in the country. The company received several contract extensions over the years.
Political parties and port workers opposed foreign involvement. They said no outside investment was needed since public money already built and equipped everything. Senior government officials supported bringing foreign operators for better operations. The debate continues about the best way to run this important facility.
