United News of Bangladesh

Three complaints have been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC), seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption in leasing key terminals of the Chattogram Port to foreign companies under concession agreements. Md Al Amin Hossain, spokesperson of civil society organisation Deshpremik Nagorik Samaj and its co-spokesperson Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil Chowdhury submitted the complaints on Sunday. According to the complaints, several profitable terminals of the port were leased or planned to be leased to foreign companies through opaque processes involving non-disclosure agreements, raising concerns over transparency, abuse of power and possible commission-based dealings. They alleged that Chattogram Port Chairman SM Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, former chief adviser’s special envoy for international affairs Lutfe Siddiqi and former shipping adviser Sakhawat Hossain made hurried attempts to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to UAE-based DP World under a concession deal. They also claimed that lobbying efforts to revive the move have recently resumed. The complaint said that on November 17, 2025, a 48-year concession agreement was signed with Denmark-based APM Terminals for Laldia Terminal. On the same day, a 22-year concession deal was signed with Switzerland-based Medlog SA for Pangaon Terminal in Keraniganj. The complainants alleged that the agreements were finalised with unusual speed and kept under non-disclosure agreements, raising questions about accountability and public disclosure. HC clears way for deal with foreign operator for New Mooring terminal They claimed that the absence of open international tenders and the handover of strategically important state assets to selected foreign firms have created strong suspicions of corruption and commission trading. If implemented, the New Mooring Terminal lease could involve transactions worth huge sums, potentially leading to large-scale commission payments, the complainants said Chattogram Port is the lifeline of the national economy and any secret deal or irregularity is unacceptable when national interest, economic security and sovereignty are at stake, they said. They urged the ACC to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation. They demanded a probe into alleged abuse of power, bribery and commission trading against the individuals concerned, scrutiny of domestic and overseas bank accounts and financial transactions if needed, and the imposition of travel bans during the investigation to prevent evidence tampering or attempts to flee. Deshpremik Nagorik Samaj expressed the hope that the Anti-Corruption Commission would take prompt and effective action to safeguard state assets.  

Container handling at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port has seen a significant improvement in the first seven days of operational management by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (from 7 July to 13, according to CA’s Press Wing. During this period, the terminal recorded an average of 3,181 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) handled per day, compared to 2,956 TEUs a day during the previous seven days when the terminal was managed by Saif Powertec Limited. This marks an increase of 225 TEUs per day, reflecting a positive improvement in efficiency and performance, it said. Chattogram port sets record in container handling in 2024 The NCT terminal had long been operated by Saif Powertec Limited and upon the expiry of its contract with Chittagong Port on July 6, 2025, the Ministry of Shipping approved the handover of operational responsibility to Chittagong Dry Dock Limited. Container loading and unloading of 10 vessels were successful in seven days and currently four vessels are being handled simultaneously at the four berths of the NCT terminal.