Chattogram:Comprehensive development and modernization initiatives are underway to transform Chattogram Port into a competitive regional shipping hub. These efforts involve reputed local and international port and shipping operators.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiatives aim to address operational bottlenecks and improve efficiency at Chattogram Port, which manages about 92 percent of Bangladesh's seaborne foreign trade. The government has engaged globally renowned port operators to manage container terminals, with plans to transform the port and the region by 2030.
The project includes the transformation of Shah Amanat International Airport and the construction of Matarbari Deep Sea Port, with Japan expressing investment interest. Port officials have highlighted the port's current operational challenges, such as long container dwell times and vessel turnaround times, which exceed global standards.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Port of Singapore Authority, and an agreement with DP World will see significant investment and upgrades to the New Mooring Container Terminal. Additionally, infrastructure development, such as the Bay Terminal project, is progressing to increase capacity and accommodate larger vessels.
Efforts are also focused on creating a paperless operational ecosystem at the port, integrating systems for enhanced security and regulatory compliance. The Chattogram Port Authority aims to establish a fully digital 'smart port' by the end of the year, ensuring a more efficient and transparent gateway for international trade.