Port Seeks New Operators, Old Ones Oppose

After 18 long years, the Chittagong Port Authority has initiated a move to appoint new operators for loading and unloading cargo from ships at the port's jetties, terminals, and mooring points. Since 2008, 46 companies have held a monopoly over cargo handling operations at the country's premier seaport.

In the intervening period, although the port authority called tenders multiple times after the designated terms expired, no new company could enter this sector due to certain stringent conditions. The lack of competition has meant that service quality and cost-effectiveness have not been ensured.

The port authority now wants to increase the number of operators, primarily under political pressure. It is learned that the government has also given its consent. Towards the end of the previous Awami League government's tenure, 23 companies were appointed for this work. However, those appointments were canceled after the political change on August 5, 2024. Now, the current BNP government is walking the same path, according to allegations made by the existing operators themselves.

In the face of opposition from current operators and threats of legal action in the High Court, there is considerable doubt as to how successful this process will ultimately be.

Chittagong Port Secretary Nasir Uddin said, "The notice for issuing new licenses has been published. Those who had previously applied do not need to apply anew according to this notice. And a committee will determine how many more operators will be given licenses."

In 2025, a total of 13.825 million tonnes of bulk and containerized cargo (cargo) were handled through Chittagong Port. Additionally, a total of 3.409 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of containers were handled across jetties and terminals. The entire work was carried out by 46 operators. In 2025, Chittagong Port earned approximately Tk 5,500 crore from various sectors, including berthing ships, cargo handling, and yard management.
Currently, 12 companies are operating cargo handling at the 12 jetties of the Chittagong Port's General Cargo Berth (GCB). Domestic companies are working at the two terminals—Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT)—while a foreign company operates at the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT). For lightering operations (transferring cargo from ships at the outer anchorage), 33 companies are working as ship handling operators.

In total, 48 operator companies are currently active. Sarwar Hossain Sagar, Chairman of the Bangladesh Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association, which represents the ship handling operators, reacted angrily, saying: "Even during the Awami League era, 23 licenses were given based on partisan considerations. Now, again, there is an attempt to issue licenses based on BNP's partisan considerations. If licenses are given indiscriminately, chaos will be created in this work, and unfair competition will emerge."

The 12 jetty operators are represented by the Berth Operators, Terminal Operators, and Ship Handling Operators Owners Association. The organization's leader, BNP-affiliated Member of Parliament Shahadat Hossain Selim, stated: "Loading and unloading cargo from ships at the port is a specialized task. It requires complex coordination between machinery and workers. We have objections to issuing licenses to new and inexperienced parties. It must first be determined how many licenses are actually needed, and stakeholders must be consulted. Furthermore, if inexperienced parties get the work, the current service standard of the port will be severely disrupted."

One ship handling operator said that the application fee is Tk 1 lakh each. Previously, 300 applications had been submitted. If another 100 applications are submitted, bringing the total to 400, the port will earn Tk 4 crore—all of it non-refundable.

Pervez Ahmed, a berth operator at the port, pointed out: "It is not the case that everyone who gets a license will automatically get cargo handling work. To get work at the jetties, specific qualifications and experience are required."