Bangladesh will hand over operations of three key container terminals to foreign companies by December, Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammad Yousuf announced. The terminals include Chattogram’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), Laldia Terminal and Keraniganj’s Pangaon Inland Container Terminal. Laldia will be leased for 30 years, while NCT and Pangaon will operate under 25-year contracts.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Economic Reporters Forum in Dhaka, Yousuf said negotiations are in the final stage. “We will not compromise on national interests. Extensive talks are ongoing and we expect to finalise contracts by December,” he said, noting that similar models work in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
He said foreign management would cut vessel waiting time—currently costing $15,000 per day—and improve cargo handling speed, lowering overall business costs. While service charges may see modest increases after decades of stagnation, faster turnaround would offset the impact, he added.
Yousuf said foreign operators would deploy modern scanners and streamline customs-port coordination, reducing congestion and boosting trade efficiency. Increased ship traffic and investment are also expected.
Industry leaders urged continued incentives for domestic shipowners and reforms in customs and shipbuilding tariffs to position Bangladesh as a regional maritime hub. DP World is among the operators under consideration, with Chittagong Dry Dock Limited managing interim operations.