Following an extended process marked by negotiations and policy reviews, the Government of Bangladesh has signed a formal 15-year lease agreement with UAE-based global port operator DP World for the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its overflow container yard at Chittagong Port.
The agreement was signed by Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), and Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, representing their respective institutions. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, served as the lead international transaction advisor for the deal.
Major developments surrounding the handover of NCT operations to DP World include:
Procurement History & Transition: The initiative to appoint an operator of international standards for the NCT was originally conceived in 2019. The terminal was long managed by local firm Saif Powertec Limited before being temporarily handed over to Navy-operated Chittagong Dry Dock Ltd in mid-2025. Following policy approval under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in March 2023 and despite brief lulls caused by labor strikes earlier this year, the current administration revived negotiations to finalize the contract.
Strategic Significance of NCT: Built in 2007 at a cost of approximately BDT 2,000 crore, the NCT features 5 modern berths and houses 14 of Chittagong Port’s 18 Quay Gantry Cranes (QGC). The terminal handles over 40% of the total container traffic moving through Chittagong Port.
Anticipated Economic Benefits: The government highlighted that DP World’s deployment of advanced terminal technology will significantly reduce vessel turnaround times and container dwell times. This efficiency is expected to lower overall logistics costs for Bangladeshi importers and exporters, bolstering the global competitiveness of key sectors such as Ready-Made Garments (RMG), processed agriculture, and light engineering.
Local Opposition: Conversely, the Chittagong Port Protection Committee has been actively staging protests, demanding the cancellation of leases granted to foreign or private entities for primary port terminals.
