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Friday | October 09, 2026 | Dhaka
New Mooring Container Terminal operation

Bangladesh, DP World sign 15-year deal today

The NCT is currently operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Ltd, a Bangladesh Navy-controlled company
 Business Report
 Published: 12:01 AM, 08 October 2026  Updated: 3:29 PM, 08 October 2026

Bangladesh and DP World of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is signing a 15-year concession agreement today for the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port and its Overflow Container Yard (OCY), amid a threat from workers to shut down the port if the deal goes ahead.

The agreement signing event to be held at the Invest Bangladesh Auditorium in the city on Thursday afternoon under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and DP World Board of Directors Chairman Essa Kazim are expected to attend.

The agreement marks a major step in the government’s long-running effort to bring an international operator into NCT, the port’s busiest container terminal.

‘This milestone marks a bold step towards realising Bangladesh’s economic growth ambitions, unlocking new frontiers of investment, efficiency and skills development,’ said Invest Bangladesh.

However, the move has triggered strong opposition from port workers and other stakeholders, who have threatened to halt port operations and vessel movements if the agreement is signed.

NCT is the largest container-handling facility at Chattogram Port. Last year, it handled 44 per cent of all containers loaded and unloaded at the port.

It currently handles around 1.3 million TEUs annually and is operated by the Bangladesh Navy-run Chattogram Dry Dock Limited.

On October 1, the government granted in-principle approval for a draft concession agreement to award terminal operation and maintenance to an international operator for 15 years.

The approval came at the 31st meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by finance minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

The agreement is part of a public-private partnership (PPP) project titled ‘Operation and Maintenance of CPA’s New Mooring Container Terminal including Overflow Yard.’

According to the PPP Authority’s project profile, the Chittagong Port Authority planned to award a government-to-government concession to UAE-based DP World to upgrade, operate and maintain the terminal.

Negotiations between the government and DP World over NCT have been underway for several years.
The process accelerated under the interim government but stalled after DP World sought additional time to review the draft concession agreement.