DWAIPAYAN BARUA, Ctg

The debate over whether to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong Port to a foreign operator is intensifying, with political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and left-leaning groups, uniting in opposition.

The move, initially introduced under the previous Awami League government through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority, has gained traction under the current interim government.

While some political and labour groups are vocal in their opposition, authorities say that a feasibility study is ongoing, with the final decision to be based on its findings.

However, Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain indicated that the administration is in favour of bringing in a foreign operator to manage the terminal.

Opposition parties argue that the NCT is already well-equipped and capable of delivering world-class services without external involvement. They claim there is no scope for expansion, making foreign investment “unnecessary” and appointing a foreign operator “irrational”.

Completed in 2007 at a cost of Tk 469 crore, the 950-metre-long NCT has five jetties -- four for ocean-going vessels and one for smaller ships on inland routes.

‘What’s the point of leasing out a functional terminal?’

Humayun Kabir, former publicity secretary of BNP’s labour wing Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (Port unit), said that the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) invested Tk 2,000 crore to fully equip the terminal.

Now, he argued, there is little left to invest in.

Since 2007, local firm Saif Powertec Ltd had been running two of the jetties of the NCT on an ad hoc basis. In 2015, the CPA formally appointed Saif Powertec as the operator for four jetties.

Kabir criticised the appointment as being “politically motivated” and argued that if a new operator is to be selected, it should be done transparently through an open tender.