Chattogram: Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun has announced that the capacity of Chattogram Port will see a significant boost with the implementation of ongoing renovation work.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the BIDA chairman made this statement while speaking to reporters during the inauguration of the ‘Shipping and Logistics Online Desk’ at Gate No. 4 of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The desk will be operated by Magnetism Tech Limited in collaboration with the port authority.
The Chairman highlighted that the container handling capacity has increased by 30 percent and the waiting time for ships has been reduced by 13 hours since the Bangladesh Navy began managing the NCT. He also noted a significant decrease in corruption and harassment related to port usage.
Furthermore, the BIDA Chairman stated that the government plans to finalize the appointment of foreign operators at the country’s major ports by December this year, with the goal of having operators for all three ports in the country by the end of the year. The NCT project will introduce modern container handling facilities, digital monitoring systems, and improved security systems.
He also mentioned that the daily cargo transportation capacity from the port is expected to double with the expansion of the Bay Terminal. The Laldia development project is also gaining importance, with plans to install new jetties, improved waterways, container handling equipment, and security systems.
Once the expansion of Laldia is completed, larger ships will be able to anchor simultaneously, and the time required for loading and unloading goods will be halved. Following the briefing, the chairman inspected the port’s renovation work and inaugurated the vehicle and container digital exchange system. Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman and senior officials were present at the event.