The much-anticipated Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port commenced operations today (June 10, 2024), marking a significant milestone for the port and the country. A container vessel, the Singapore-flagged ‘MAERSK DAVAO,’ anchored at the terminal this morning, initiating regular handling activities. Authorities anticipate the terminal will handle approximately 500,000 Twenty-ft Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. PCT is the first terminal in Chattogram Port’s history to be operated by a foreign company, heralding a new era of foreign investment and operational models. This transformation has positioned Chattogram as a landlord port, a significant upgrade for Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure. Ctg Port resumes partial activities after Cyclone Remal Six months ago, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) signed an agreement with the Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) of Saudi Arabia. Following customs formalities and equipment installations, Red Sea Gateway Bangladesh Limited has now officially commenced operations. Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA, confirmed that RSGT is fully prepared to manage container handling at the newly built terminal. According to the CPA, the new terminal will not only enhance the port’s capacity but also reduce the average stay time for vessels. Constructed at a cost of Tk 150 crore, funded by the port, the PCT features state-of-the-art facilities, including gantry cranes that significantly increase loading and unloading efficiency. Rear Admiral Md Sohail, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, noted that it would take approximately 18 months for the terminal to become fully operational. The PCT was built on 32 acres of land near Chattogram Drydock Limited to Boat Club, with the foundation stone laid on September 8, 2017. The project, supervised by the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army, commenced construction in 2018, involving a total cost of Tk 1,230 crore. Parliamentary delegation explores Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Ctg With the new terminal, vessels will no longer need to wait at the outer anchorage for extended periods, as the Patenga Container Terminal can accommodate four vessels at once across its jetties. This increased capacity is expected to alleviate congestion and streamline operations at Chattogram Port.

Maritime ports of Bangladesh have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal no. one as the deep depression over Westcentral Bay and adjoining area moved slightly north-northeastwards and now lies over the same area. At 6 am on Monday, it was centred about 840 kms West-Southwest of Chattogram port, 800 kms West-Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 710 kms southwest of Mongla and Payra ports, respectively, said a special Met office bulletin this morning (October 23, 2023). Read: Extreme weather kills 2 million, costs $4 trillion in 50 years: WMO It is likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify further, added the bulletin. Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 kms of the deep depression centre is about 50 kph rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain rough near the deep depression centre. Read: New weather forecasting system launched for Bangladeshi farmers Meanwhile, all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain closed to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea, reads the special bulletin.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (August 28, 2023) assured that relevant authorities of Bangladesh will give due consideration to a proposal of Danish shipping and logistic giant Maersk Group for constructing and operating a new container terminal at Laldia of Chattogram. The prime minister made the assurance when Chief Executive Officer of the Maersk Group Robert Maersk Uggla along with Danish Charges D’Affaires in Bangladesh Andres B Karlsen called on her at her office. Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the call on. ‘Lost a faithful political companion’: PM mourns death of Principal Motiur Rahman “Over 50 Danish Companies are working in Bangladdsh, and Maersk Group is now interested to construct and operate APM terminal at Laldia,”  Hasina said. The PM said that a national committee has been formed to formulate logistic policy for the development of ports. In this regard, she mentioned that two ports- Chattogram and Mongla are already in operation while the government is developing another named Paira Port and it will will come in to operation soon.  “India, Nepal and Bhutan have been given opportunities to use these ports for the mutual benefits,” the prime minister said. There will be many opportunities and advantages in the ports particularly in the Paira port, she added. Foreign leaders attending BRICS summit laud Bangladesh's dev under PM Hasina's leadeship: Momen Pointing out contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman  for the development and welfare of the nation, Sheikh Hasina said, the great leader struggled throughout his life for the economic emancipation of the people. During the meeting, the Maersk Group CEO said, there are great potentials in the areas of container shipping and logistic support in Bangladesh. Maersk Uggla welcomed vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to establish smart Bangladesh and said it will be reflected in Chattogram sea port, according to the press secretary. He expressed keenness to invest for the development of port and logistic supports in Bangladesh saying there are many opportunities in this sectors. In this context, the Maersk Group CEO mentioned that H&M, M&S, Walmart and other big companies are interested to import more RMG products from Bangladesh. Unhindered democracy spurs Bangladesh’s advancement: PM Hasina He said that there are many opportunities to diversify cooperation, while the Danish government is very much supportive in the logistic policy. Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail were present.

Bangladesh and India are now at the final stage of operationalization of the agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla ports for transit of goods to and from India. The agreement was signed between Bangladesh and India in 2018. Following completion of trial runs, necessary permanent standing order or notification would now be issued by the government of Bangladesh for the operationalization and regular movement of goods under this agreement, officials said. This is a "step forward" in realizing the commitment reiterated at the level of the two prime ministers during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in September 2022. Read India offers free transit to Bangladesh for exports to third countries

- A cargo vessel named ‘Trans Samudera’ arrived in Chattogram Port on Tuesday carrying an Indian transit container to be transported to the Northeastern State of India (Assam) via the territory of Bangladesh. This movement of cargo is part of the trial runs being undertaken for the operationalization of the agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla ports for the transit of goods to and from India which was signed between Bangladesh and India in 2018. The trial run is being undertaken by Tata Steel and CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. on the route Chattogram-Sheola-Sutarkandi, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. There are eight approved routes for transit of goods under the agreement, namely, Chattogram/Mongla port to Agartala via Akhaura, Chattogram/Mongla port to Dawkivia Tamabil, Chattogram/Mongla port to Sutarkandi via Sheola, Chattogram/Monglaport to Srimantapur via Bibirbazar and vice versa on all four routes. Read: Transit: First cargo ship from India arrives at Mongla port for trial run During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2019, a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) was signed to operationalize the agreement. The first trial movement under this agreement on the route Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala was “successfully” conducted in July 2020 wherein four containers, two each of TMT steel and pulses, were delivered at ICP (Integrated Check Post) Agartala from Kolkata through Chattogram, said the high commission. The transit or transshipment of goods under this agreement will reduce both cost and time for transport of goods to Northeastern States of India. It will also create economic gains for the Bangladesh logistics and services industry (insurance, transport and finance industry) as only Bangladesh trucks will be used for transshipment, said the high commission. In the coming few days, a trial run is expected to be done on the Dawki-Tamabil-Chattogram route which will mark completion of trial runs on all approved routes under this agreement, it said. As per the understanding reached earlier this year between the two governments, a necessary permanent standing order/notification would be issued by the government of Bangladesh after completion of these trials for the operationalization and regular movement of goods under this agreement, said the high commission.

The customs seized two more large consignments of foreign liquors from Chattogram port Monday as the goods were imported under false declarations and through tax evasions. "We took possession of two more containers loaded with stashes of foreign liquors," Saiful Haque, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Customs House, said. The consignments of liquor were brought to Bangladesh under the declarations of yarn and resin imports by faking import permission and using the names of Mongla EPZ's VIP Industries Bangladesh and Nilphamari Uttara EPZ's Dong Jin Industrial. Also read: Man held with 12 gold bars at Ctg airport The customs seized five containers of foreign liquors in the last three days. Sunday, Chattogram Customs House took possession of one huge consignment of foreign liquors from Chattogram port. Using the name of Dong Jin of Uttara EPZ, the consignment of liquor was brought to Bangladesh under the declaration of yarn import from China by faking import permission. The importers evaded duty of Tk12.45 crore, Saiful said. Saturday, the customs seized two large consignments of foreign liquors from Sonargaon and Narayanganj. Chattogram Customs House seized two containers loaded with huge stashes of foreign liquors during a special drive. Also read: Rab nabs 4, including cop, with Yaba pills in Ctg The consignments of liquor were released at the port under the declarations of textured yarn and machinery imports from China by faking import permission and using the names of Cumilla EPZ's Hashy Tiger and Ishwardi EPZ's BHK Textile, Saiful said. As the shipments contained foreign liquor with high taxable value, importers evaded a duty of Tk24.70 crore.

Two Indian crew of a Danish oil tanker died reportedly after inhaling toxic gas while working in the vessel at the Chattogram port on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Jishnu Raj, 29, and Akhil Shekhar, 26, hailing from India’s Kerala state. Also read: Bulkhead sinks at Ctg port, 5 crew rescued Secretary of Chattogram port Md Omar Faruq said Jishnu and Akhil fell sick when they entered the cargo tank of the oil tanker named  MD Nord Magic. “They were rushed to a local hospital where the on-duty doctors declared them dead,” said Faruq. Officer-In-charge (OC) of Patenga police station Kabir Hossain said the vessel anchored at the Chattogram port on June 15. Also read: Lighter vessel sinks in Bay: 12 missing crew members rescued MTCL, the local agent of the Danish ship, lodged a General Diary (GD) with Patenga police station in this regard, he said.

Bangladesh’s first-ever direct export of readymade garments by sea  started on Monday with MV Songa Cheeta leaving Chattogram port for Italy. The ship left the port at around 3 pm for Ravenna port in Italy carrying 950 TEUs (Twenty Equipment Unit) in 493 boxes. On Saturday, the ship anchored at NCT04 jetty of the port carrying the empty containers. Port chairman, Rear Admiral M Shahjahan inaugurated the direct ship operation on Bangladesh-Italy route on Monday at NCT jetty of the port. Also read: Don’t get trapped by traffickers, warns Embassy after deaths in Italy Terming it as a ground breaking turn of Bangladesh economy he said ships on this route will be prioritized for facilitating with berthing, key gantry crane allotment and other amenities. Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan were present at the inauguration They hailed the direct shipment as a new milestone for Bangladesh in international sea trade. “Now it will mostly take 15 days to send goods to European ports which used to take one and a half months before. It will decrease the carrying cost by 45 to 50 per cent, “said Md Omar Faruque, a Chattogram port official. BGMEA leaders and concerned shipping agents said until now the RMG goods for export were sent to Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysian ports in containers on feeder ships from Chattogram port. From there the containers are carried by larger ships bound for European and US ports, they said.    Also read: Increased capacity of Ctg Port to cut cost of doing business: FBCCI According to them if direct container ship operation on Chattogram-Italy route remains uninterrupted Bangladesh will be ahead of Vietnam in RMG export as it will save lead time and fare. On December 23, the first trial ship operation to Bangladesh from Italy began by bringing empty containers.

Loading and unloading activities at Chattogram port came to a halt as goods transport workers went on a three-day strike across the country on Tuesday morning to press home their 15-point demand. The strike enforced by Truck and Covered Van Owners-Workers Oikkya Parishad will remain in force till 6 am Thursday. Read:Transport workers withdraw indefinite strike in Sunamganj The movement of all kinds of goods-laden vehicles including that of prime mover (trailer), covered van and trucks remained suspended across the country since Tuesday morning.  Besides, the handling work of ships also remained suspended. Chattogram port authorities said all types of work including loading and unloading of goods from containers, transporting goods from Inland Container Depot(ICD) and factories remained suspended since morning. Read: Indefinite bus strike underway in Sunamganj Mohammad Mainuddin, President of Chattogram Prime Mover Workers Union, said their demands included stopping advance taxes from trucks and covered vans, returning the advance taxes relaised to date and introducing issuance of license for truck, covered van drivers which remained suspended for the past 10 year. Talukdar Mohammad Manir, President of Bangladesh Truck Drivers Federation, said they will go for tougher movement if their demands go unheeded.

An Indian Navy offshore patrol vessel, INS Savitri - arrived here on Thursday delivering two mobile oxygen plants (MOP), each with a capacity of generating 960 litres of oxygen per minute. While in Bangladesh, the ship’s company would be interacting with their Bangladesh counterparts; on its journey out, Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy ships will be engaging in passage exercise in the Bay of Bengal on Friday. This visit by INS Savitri is also the second port call by Indian Navy vessels to Bangladesh in 2021, when India and Bangladesh are jointly commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 Liberation War. Read: Another Oxygen Express on its way to Bangladesh from India Earlier in March 2021, two Indian Navy ships had made a historic maiden visit to Mongla to jointly celebrate Mujib Borsho. These MOPs were developed and manufactured by DRDO in India, and given to the government of Bangladesh to support to the natural effort to fight the Covid pandemic. One MOP is to be set up at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and the other plant is for the Bangladesh Navy, to be set up at BNS Patenga, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. These fully equipped, state-of-the-art MOPs generate medical oxygen on-site in a highly cost-effective manner. In addition to direct installation at hospitals, they can also be used for refilling oxygen cylinders as well. The MOPs generate medical breathing standard oxygen using Zeolite (Molecular Sieve) technology with Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) principle for medical applications. Read: Cabinet body approves proposal for 30 oxygen plants INS Savitri is an offshore patrol vessel designed to patrol India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone and has been built by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Vishakhapatnam. As part of the Eastern Fleet of India, INS Savitri, undertakes fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of the sea lanes of communication. The ship is commanded by Cdr N Roby Singh. Regular port calls by Bangladesh Navy and Indian Navy ships to each other’s countries is an ongoing activity and helps strengthen the spirit of fraternal friendship and close cooperation.