Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said on Sunday that the government aims to appoint a foreign operator to at least one of three key terminals by December.
He identified the Bay Terminal and the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), both in Chattogram, as well as a container terminal at Laldia Char as possible options.
Chowdhury added that people previously believed that private terminal operators were doing a good job, but this notion had been dispelled after the NCT was handed over to Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, an organisation under the control of the Bangladesh Navy, in early July.
Since then, at least 30% more containers are being handled at the terminal, he said.
"If Dry Dock can do better, then Dry Dock can operate this terminal," he said, adding, "And if it seems it would be better for a global operator to come in, the government will also consider that. In short, the interim government will do what is best for the country."
He also said that since the current government does not have a long tenure, it is moving forward with the issue of ensuring that no work stops during the interim.
"There is a long-term plan for the port, which will start by December. In order to turn the huge manpower of Bangladesh into an asset, the capacity of Chittagong Port must be increased. There is no alternative," he said.
"By bringing reforms to the NCT, we wanted to conduct an experiment. The government has passed that experiment. Now, with a 30 percent increase in container handling, the turnaround time for ships has decreased by at least 13 percent. This is a very positive message for import-export."
However, Chowdhury said foreign investors and domestic exporters still complain that it takes much longer to complete port activities in Chattogram compared to Vietnam.
"In the near future, Vietnam will say that it takes less time at Chittagong Port than them. The government is working towards this goal. This government may not be able to complete everything. But it will start a system so that any subsequent government can continue that trend."
He made the remarks after inaugurating the Vehicle and Container Digital Data Exchange System at the CPR Gate of the Chittagong Port and inspecting the port's activities.
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