Dhaka: Shipping, Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (Rtd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain today announced that the restart of the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) marks a new horizon in the nation's port management and inland water transport sector. This development is expected to increase inland container transportation and enhance multimodal transport connectivity. Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain made these remarks while inaugurating the resumption of operations at the Pangaon ICT at Keraniganj, modeled after Swiss standards, as the chief guest.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government's primary goal is to transform this critically important infrastructure, which has been incurring losses for a prolonged period, into a profitable and efficient facility through expert management. Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury, who attended the inaugural function as a special guest, stated that a 22-year concession agreement would make cargo handling at the Pangaon ICT more dynamic, positively impacting the national economy.
The ceremony also saw the presence of the Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, Rear Admiral M. Moniruzzaman, as a special guest, while ATM Anisul Mollah, Managing Director of MGL Bangladesh Private Limited, delivered the welcome address. An official release noted that the Pangaon ICT, built at a cost of approximately Taka 155 crore, had been facing financial losses over the past decade. Consequently, the government opted to transition its operations to private management.
In line with this decision, a 22-year concession agreement was signed last November, entrusting MGL Bangladesh Private Limited, in partnership with the Chittagong Port Authority, with the operation, maintenance, and modernization of the Pangaon ICT.