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Saturday | October 03, 2026 | Dhaka

Saudi RSGT in line to run CCT

Chattogram Port expands foreign participation
 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:52 AM, 03 October 2026

Chattogram Port, the country’s principal seaport, is moving further towards foreign participation in terminal operations, with the government directing the port authority to begin the process of appointing Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) as the operator of the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT).

The Shipping Ministry issued the directive on September 28, a day after the government gave in-principle approval to a 15-year concession agreement for an international operator to upgrade, operate and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Overflow Container Yard (OCY).

In a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Farzana Hossain, the ministry asked the chairman of the Invest Bangladesh Authority to process RSGT’s appointment as the operator of the CCT.

The letter referred to RSGT’s expression of interest in implementing two Chattogram Port Authority projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model-CCT and the General Cargo Berths (GCB)-as well as the Bay Port-Multipurpose Terminal.

“The Invest Bangladesh Authority is requested to process the letter for appointment of RSGT as operator for the CCT,” the letter said.

RSGT among bidders
RSGT’s proposed appointment follows a competitive process involving several international and local operators for the CCT.

Dubai-based DP World and Saudi Arabia-based RSGT submitted separate proposals to operate the terminal on April 8 and April 22 respectively, while local conglomerate MGH Group also submitted a proposal.

RSGT confirmed to The Business Standard in May that it was interested in operating both the CCT and GCB and planned to invest around $1 billion if selected.

Strategically located between the NCT and GCB, the CCT handled around 16 per cent of Chattogram Port’s container throughput in 2025, according to port data.

The NCT handled about 44 per cent, the GCB 36 per cent and Patenga Container Terminal nearly 4 per cent.

RSGT already operates the Patenga Container Terminal under a 22-year concession awarded in 2024.

More foreign participation
The move comes as the government also advances plans to bring foreign management to the port’s largest container-handling facility, the NCT.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on September 27 gave in-principle approval to a draft 15-year concession agreement for an international operator to upgrade, operate and maintain the NCT and OCY.

The PPP Authority’s project profile identifies DP World, nominated by the government of Dubai, as the proposed operator.

The NCT handled around 44 per cent of Chattogram Port’s total container volume last year, making it the largest container-handling facility at the country’s principal seaport.

The government has also awarded the development and operation of the greenfield Laldia Container Terminal to Denmark-based APM Terminals under a long-term PPP concession.

With the latest directive, operation of another major existing terminal, the CCT, is now moving towards foreign management, with RSGT named in official correspondence.

The ministry’s letter does not, however, specify the tenure, financial terms or investment obligations of the proposed CCT arrangement. Those details are expected to be determined through the subsequent PPP and concession process.