Following the decision of the Awami League government, four more terminals in Chittagong port are going to foreign operators. Earlier, a similar decision was taken in the case of Patenga Container Terminal built with Chittagong Port's own funding. In light of that decision, the terminal built at a cost of Tk 1,230 crore was given to a Saudi company as an operator for only Tk 220 crore. In this situation, it has been alleged that the country's interests are being undermined by the appointment of foreign operators.
According to port sources, the process of appointing foreign operators to manage the four terminals are Container Terminal-1 (Bay Terminal), Container Terminal-2 (Bay Terminal) and Char Terminal at Laldia and Newmooring Container Terminal (SCT) and Over Flow Container. Yard (OCY). These include PSA Singapore (Port of Singapore Authority) of Singapore on G2G basis for Container Terminal-1 at Bay Terminal; Discussions are underway with Dubai's DPWorld (Dubai Port Authority) and Laldia's Char project for Bay Terminal's Container Terminal-2. IFC was appointed as the transaction advisor in these three projects. IFC has submitted the Inception Report of the project. Apart from this, the process of appointing an operator for the implementation of the fourth Neumooring Container Terminal (SCT) and Overflow Container Yard with Dubai's DPWorld under the G2G PPP system is underway.
The appointment of foreign operators has been confirmed from the minutes of the meeting regarding the review of the progress in the implementation of those projects of the Chittagong Port Authority under the Ministry of Shipping on October 17.
The joint secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, who was present at the meeting. Gholam Rabbi told Ajker Patrika that Bay Terminal's Container Terminal-1, which is under implementation through Singapore's PSA on PPP G2G basis; Bay Terminal's Container Terminal-II PPP is under process for implementation through DPWorld, Dubai on G2G basis. And Laldia's Char project will be implemented on PPP G2G basis with Denmark. They are being implemented in the light of previous decisions.
The chief executive of the PPP authority. Hafizur Rahman told Ajker newspaper that Bay Terminal-1, Bay Terminal-2, Laldia Container Terminal and Newmooring Container Terminal have been accepted for implementation under G2G PPP method. The transaction advisors engaged in all the four projects are carrying out feasibility study activities. Among them, the feasibility study of Bay Terminal-1 and 2 is at an advanced stage.
Spokesperson and Secretary of Chittagong Port. Omar Farooq said, since there is no other decision, Denmark will implement the PSA of Singapore for the Container Terminal-1 of the Bay Terminal and the Char Project of Dubai and Laldia for the Container Terminal-2 of the Bay Terminal on G2G basis. Apart from this, the process of appointing operators for implementation of G2G PPP system at Neumooring Container Terminal (SCT) and Over Flow Container Yard is underway.
