United News of Bangladesh

Chattogram Port has decided to increase its tariff by an average of 30 percent for import and export activities. Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain made the announcement on Friday while talking to the media following a visit to the port in the morning. “This is the first tariff adjustment since 1986. The decision was made in consultation with relevant ministries and stakeholders,” the adviser said, adding that while the move is expected to boost revenue, it may also raise costs for businesses involved in import and export. The government aims to enhance the capacity of Chattogram Port and elevate its status on the global stage, Sakhawat said.  To achieve this, he said, foreign operators may be engaged in managing operations at the port.  He,  however, assured that the overall control and supervision would remain in the hands of the government. The Adviser urged all concerned not to spread misinformation regarding the involvement of foreign operators. Sakhawat Hossain mentioned that the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) has seen significant progress since the Navy assumed operational responsibilities from Saif Powertec on July 7.  Chattogram port sets record in container handling in 2024 Currently, container handling at the terminal has increased by approximately 13 percent, with an average of 3,200 containers being handled daily. Chattogram Dry Dock Limited, operating under the supervision of the Bangladesh Navy, took over the NCT’s operations after 16 years. The terminal has since demonstrated improved performance, equipped with modern superstructure and international-standard facilities, the Adviser said. He also acknowledged that the previous operator had also performed well during its tenure. While at the port, the Shipping  Adviser  inspected the ongoing container loading and unloading operations at the NCT and was briefed on the recent progress. Commander of the Bangladesh Navy’s Chattogram region, Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali, stated that from July 7 to July 24, an average of 3,250 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were handled daily at NCT under the management of Chattogram Dry Dock — marking a 12.10 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous month. He added that during this period, 30 vessels successfully completed container operations and that vessel turnaround time has been reduced by 10 hours. Currently, four vessels are simultaneously being handled at jetties 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the NCT. Port users and traders believe that Chattogram Dry Dock’s effective management has accelerated overall port operations, contributing to more efficient import-export processes and positively impacting the national economy.

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.

Chittagong Dry Dock Limited under Bangladesh Navy took over the responsibility of operating much-discussed the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong  port on Sunday midnight ending Saif Powertec’s 17-year operation of the facility. Chittagong Port Authority transferred the terminal to Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, a ship yard managed by the Navy, for six months at midnight, port officials said. “NCT operations have been handed over to Chattogram Dry Dock following government instructions and approval from the Port Authority's board meeting,” said Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruk. He said a six-month agreement has been signed with Chattogram Dry Dock to run the terminal which came into effect from Monday. Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, formerly an enterprise of Bangladesh Steel & Engineering Corporation, was created as a complementary facility to Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to cater regular and emergency repair needs of the national flag carrier vessels as well as vessels those touch Chittagong Port. Chittagong Port should be run with domestic resources: GOC  On 23rd December 2015, CDDL was handed over to Bangladesh Navy (BN) and now being operated under the management of BN as state owned limited company. The CDDL will initially be responsible for managing NCT for six months under the direct procurement method. Saif Powertec Managing Director Tarafder Ruhul Amin said they have officially handed over NCT to the Navy but continue operations at Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) under a separate agreement. Chattogram port has four container terminals — Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), General Cargo Berth (GCB, handling container and bulk cargo) and Patenga Container Terminal (PCT). NCT alone handled 44 percent of the 3.2 million TEUs of containers managed by Chattogram port in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Saif Powertec had been operating NCT since 2007.

Operations at the Customs House in Chattogram remained suspended for a second straight day on Sunday, as officials and staff of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) continued their ‘complete shutdown’ programme, bringing activities at the country’s premier seaport to a standstill. The shutdown programme severely disrupted operations at the Chittagong Port, the country’s key trade gateway, causing serious difficulties for traders and exporters. Sources said some 38,000 containers remained stranded at the port over the past two days till Sunday afternoon, said Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port. Authorities fear that if the deadlock is not resolved by Sunday, cargo delivery from the port may come to a complete halt. The bonded warehouse operations and customs clearance processes at Chittagong Port are closely interconnected. Any disruption in customs clearance directly impacts port activity. Stakeholders fear worsening container and vessel congestion if the situation persists. During a visit to Customs House, Chattogram, this correspondent found the office largely empty, with import and export clearance processes suspended. Even previously cleared consignments are now facing complications due to a lack of customs officers for final inspection. Officials stationed at the port gates are not conducting scanning or examinations, halting cargo release by port authorities. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council, the complete shutdown has been enforced across all customs, VAT and tax offices in the country since Saturday, though international passenger services remain unaffected. A peaceful ‘March to NBR’ campaign is also being observed across the country. Omar Faruk said, “Our operations are continuing for now, but if customs clearance does not resume, we will have to stop as well.” He, however, said the vessels for which the customs clearance process had been completed earlier are loading and unloading goods at the jetty. Finance Adviser ‘declines’ meeting with NBR Reform Unity Council amid protests The goods for which customs duties had been paid earlier are also being cleared, he said. “However, no vessel has been registered since Saturday morning. Those arriving at the outer anchorage cannot berth at jetties until the customs shutdown is withdrawn or officers return to work. If the situation continues, the entire port may become inoperative in the next couple of days,” said Faruk. The NBR officials under the banner of NBR Unity Council continued their ‘complete shutdown’ for the second consecutive day on Sunday, demanding the immediate removal of its chairman. The NBR Reform Unity Council has been demonstrating with a series of protest programmes demanding structural reforms and the removal of the NBR Chairman citing allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation, and obstruction of pro-reform efforts. NBR officials’ ‘complete shutdown’ enters day 2 Since early June the agitating officials have held work abstentions, hunger strikes, and human chains, disrupting services in tax, VAT and customs offices across the country. The protests began after the government issued an ordinance on May 12 dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division. As a critical component of NBR, Chattogram Customs' participation in the shutdown has led to near paralysis of port operations. The port handles approximately 92% of the country’s seaborne trade, and customs activities, including duty assessment and submission of bills of entry, have come to a halt, severely disrupting cargo movement.  

Port workers have warned of enforcing shutdowns and blockades if the government proceeds with any move to hand over operations of the Chattogram Port to foreign companies. Speaking at a protest rally in the port area on Friday afternoon, labour leaders alleged that a conspiracy to privatise the port began during the previous Awami League government, when operations of various terminals were handed over to private operators. They claimed the current interim government is following that same path by attempting to transfer the management of the NCT and CCT to foreign companies. They said that if the decision is not scrapped immediately, they will bring port activities to a standstill through hartals, blockades and work stoppages. Govt wants to punish evil circles: CHT Adviser The protest rally was organised by the Chattogram Port Combined Workers-Employees Federation. BNP’s Central Labour Affairs Secretary A M Nazim Uddin attended the rally as chief guest while labour Party President Anwar Hossain and Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, General Secretary of the Chattogram divisional unit of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, also addressed the gathering.

The Chittagong Port Authority on Thursday directed all lighter vessels carrying goods to leave the port limit within 72 hours to ensure uninterrupted supply chain and stable market prices during Ramadan. Legal action would be taken against vessels failing to comply with the directive, warned Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman while talking to the media. “Recently, it has been observed that after unloading cargo from mother vessels at the outer anchorage, lighter vessels remain within the port limit for extended periods without any valid reason. This disrupts the supply chain, creates artificial crises in the market, increases commodity prices that affect the consumers,” Moniruzzaman said. Creating artificial shortages to manipulate prices is against the interests of the country and people and the prolonged presence of excessive lighter vessels within a restricted area also poses security risks, he added. The port chairman said keeping the port limit free of obstructions is crucial for the uninterrupted movement of international commercial vessels. The unauthorised presence of  lighter vessels within the port boundary is a clear violation of the Chittagong Port Act and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Despite political unrest earlier in the year and recurrent floods, Chattogram Port has witnessed a record-breaking year in 2024, registering a 7.42% growth in container handling compared to 2023. Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, disclosed the information on Wednesday during a visit to port activities. The port handled a total of 32.76 lakh containers and 12.39 crore metric tonnes of goods during the year. Cargo handling also saw a 3.11% growth. Dr Yunus asks fire probe committee to submit recommendations in 10 days “Chattogram Port has achieved the highest volume of container and cargo handling in its history in 2024,” Moniruzzaman said. Besides, the port recorded a revenue income of Tk 5,055.99 crore, a 21.39% increase from the previous year’s Tk 4,165.18 crore. The revenue surplus stood at Tk 2,948.97 crore, marking a 37.60% rise compared to the previous year’s Tk 2,143.10 crore. The revenue expenditure was Tk 2,107.2 crore, which is 4.20% less than last year’s Tk 2,202.8 crore. Sources said Chattogram Port, ranked 67th among the world’s 100 busiest ports, has been facing several challenges in recent years. CMP issues 13 guidelines for 31st night celebrations in the port city The ongoing dollar crisis led to restrictions on luxury goods imports, slowing container and cargo handling at the port. In 2023, container handling dropped to 3.05 lakh metric tonnes, while cargo volume fell to 12.2 crore metric tonnes. Moreover, the student-led movement in July and August this year and devastating floods in September further impacted the country’s economy.

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.