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Wednesday | February 25, 2026 | Dhaka

Port deal only when national interests protected as PM instructs officials

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud bin Harun briefs the journalists after concluding the meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

Business Desk :

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday instructed officials to ensure that all decisions regarding the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port serve the national interest.

He gave the directive while presiding over a meeting on Tuesday at the Cabinet Division on the terminal’s operations.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, among others.

Speaking to reporters, Ashik said the prime minister emphasised that any agreement on the NCT must safeguard national interests.

Asked about the recently-dissolved interim government’s stance on a possible treaty with DP World, he explained, “The position remains that if any agreement can be concluded safeguarding the national interest, only then will it be signed. Such a stance had been expressed during the interim period.”

He added that as this was the first day’s meeting, it would be premature to draw conclusions.
Describing the discussion as preliminary, the BIDA chief said it was the first day’s meeting and it would not be appropriate to reach a quick conclusion.

Asked about the prime minister’s specific instructions, Ashik said, “Today (Tuesday) we briefed him; he did not brief us. He listened and gave some preliminary directives.”

His remarks come following protests and debate over leasing out the New Mooring Container Terminal at the Chattogram Port.

Meanwhile, 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 since May last year. The move, initially introduced under the previous Awami League government through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority, has gained traction under the immediate past 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.