Deal signed: DP World gets NCT for 15 years

At 3:40 pm on Thursday, Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman and DP World Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem signed the agreement. The World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC) acted as transaction advisor in the contract process.

Earlier, Saif Powertec Limited was in charge of NCT operations. After their contract expired on 6 July 2025, Chittagong Dry Dock, an institution run by the Bangladesh Navy, took over operations the next day.

The initiative to appoint an international operator for NCT began in 2019. In March 2023, under public-private partnership (PPP), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs granted in-principle approval to appoint an international operator. Later, the interim government activated the process and selected DP World as the operator. Though the process stalled at one point due to various reasons including workers' strike, it was later moved forward again.

Built in 2007 at a cost of about Tk 2,000 crore, NCT has five jetties and 14 of Chattogram Port's 18 quayside gantry cranes. More than 40 percent of the port's total container handling takes place through this terminal.

The government claims that after DP World takes charge, ship turnaround time and container dwell time will decrease. This could reduce logistics costs for importers and exporters, as well as benefit export-oriented sectors including ready-made garments, agricultural products, processed goods, and light engineering.

However, various organizations including the Chattogram Port Protection Committee have been opposing the decision to hand over NCT to a foreign company for the long term.

Protest demanding cancellation of the deal

On Thursday, leaders and activists of the Anti-Imperialism and Anti-War Alliance protested in front of the Invest Bangladesh office in Agargaon, Dhaka, demanding cancellation of the deal. Police at one point baton-charged and dispersed them, according to protesters.

At the protest, Basad General Secretary Bazlur Rashid alleged that giving this profitable terminal to a foreign company is against the country's interests. Referring to those who are handing over Chittagong Port to foreigners as ‘port criminals’, he demanded cancellation of the deal.