The government has taken an initiative to hand over the operation and maintenance of Chattogram Port's Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its associated overflow yard to a foreign operator for a period of 15 years. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given policy approval to the draft agreement in this regard. This marks another step forward in the process of handing over NCT's operation to a foreign entity, amid prolonged debate and protest movements.

The proposal, put forward by the Ministry of Shipping, was approved at the 31st meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, held at the Secretariat on Thursday (October 1). The agreement has been proposed under the "Maintenance of CPA's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) including Overflow Yard (OCOY)" project, under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Under the proposed agreement, there are plans to hand over terminal operations to DP World, a Dubai-based company from the United Arab Emirates. The company has submitted its proposal for the project as the Dubai government's nominated entity. However, several approval processes still remain before the agreement can be finally implemented.

NCT, a key installation of the port authority, handles a large share of Chattogram Port's total container traffic. In 2025, around 44 percent of the port's total container traffic was handled through this terminal.

The initiative to hand over NCT to a foreign operator has long been a subject of debate and criticism. Various labor and political organizations have opposed it from the outset, and there have been sustained protest movements over the issue.

Labor organizations fear that if terminal operations go to a foreign company, questions could arise over national economic interests, employment, workers' rights, and state control over the port. On the other hand, the government's plan involves bringing changes to the terminal's operation and maintenance system through an international operator.

According to project-related information from the PPP Authority, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is working as transaction advisor for this deal. It has also been tasked with structuring the agreement, preparing tender-related documents, and advancing the negotiations.

NCT's operation currently rests with Chattogram Dry Dock Limited. The company will continue to operate the terminal until the new agreement takes effect and responsibilities are handed over.