CHATTOGRAM Apr 29: The government has taken a step to hand over Chattogram Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator to free its operational activities from the monopoly of some vested parties.
But a group of port workers and several political partied have been opposing the move, raising concerns that handing over the profitable, fully operational terminal to a foreign company would not be economically viable.
As per government decision, all the container terminals of the country's prime sea port will be handed over to the foreign operation through the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).
Under this decision, Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) decided to appoint foreign operators for Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and two terminals of Bay Terminal.
Of them the operation and maintenance of Patenga Container Terminal has already been handed over to Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT). The project is in the operational stage. It was implemented under G2G guidelines with the government of the KSA. The private partner RSGT Bangladesh Ltd. is in charge of the operation.
Besides, Operation of Laldia Container Terminal at Chittagong Port through PPP model is under implementation.
The project is in the feasibility study stage where a Transaction Advisor will carry out the feasibility study. The project will be implemented under the G2G guidelines with the government of Denmark.
The project to construct Bay Terminal (Terminal 1 &2) is in the feasibility study stage where TA has submitted a feasibility study report and the authority is now reviewing it. The project will be implemented under the G2G guidelines with the government of Singapore and the government of UAE.
Besides, the project--operation and maintenance of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) including Overflow Container Yard (OCY)-- is in the feasibility study stage. It has just received an inception report from the TA, which the government is reviewing. It will be implemented by DP-World, a UAE- based state-owned company.
The process for appointment of a foreign operator for NCT is now on progressing. For this reason, a section of CPA workers and several political parties stood against the process.
Construction of the terminal having five jetties was completed in 2007 while Saif Powertec Ltd has been operating two jetties No 2 and 3 of the terminal since May 2007 on an ad hoc basis.
Constructed at a cost of Tk 2,000 crore, the 950-metre-long terminal was completed by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) in 2007. Equipped with five jetties, NCT can simultaneously accommodate four ocean-going container vessels at four jetties, while the fifth jetty is dedicated to the berthing of smaller container ships plying on inland routes to Pangaon. Of the port's 18 quayside gantry cranes (QGCs), an important container handling equipment, NCT alone has 14.
Demonstrating port workers have questioned leasing out a ready-made terminal to a foreign operator, raising concerns that over 1,000 workers currently engaged at NCT could lose their jobs if the move is materialized.
Besides, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has also urged the government not to hand over the NCT to any foreign company.
Shahjahan Chowdhury, Ameer of Chattogram Metropolitan unit Jamaat-e-Islami made the demand while speaking at a press conference held at Chattogram Press Club recently. They also demanded that NCT operate under the port authority's own management.
"The Chattogram port is the driving force of the national economy. It handles 92% of the country's import and export activities. NCT is currently the top revenue-generating terminal of the port. Handing over such a self-sufficient terminal to foreign hands would be a direct blow to the national economy," he added.
Meanwhile, Saif Powertech, a private organization has been dominating the port operations with the support of some Awami League leaders for several years with malpractices.
Saif PowerTech is now handling containers and containerized cargo at the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), two specialised terminals of the port.
CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman said the process of appointing Dubai-based DP World at NCT is being carried out under a treaty signed between the governments of Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
The CPA Chairman further announced that Chattogram Port is on track to become a green maritime corridor, with upcoming terminals; including Matarbari, Bay Terminal and Laldia, being developed as environmentally sustainable "green ports. The inauguration of these terminals will also open up new shipping routes, boosting connectivity and trade.
