Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will file a case against E-Engineering Limited, a subsidiary of Saif Powertec Limited, to recover Tk4.43 crore in unpaid rent and value added tax for land at Patenga after six years of non-payment.
The authority has issued a legal notice and cancelled the allocation of about 30,000 square metres, roughly seven acres, officials said.
According to CPA officials and a legal notice, E-Engineering did not pay rent and VAT from March 2019 to 28 February 2025, although the land was allocated on 23 September 2018 for six months following its application.
The space at Patenga 15 No Canal was designated for constructing an over container yard and jetty for the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT).
The company cleared dues until March 2019, but no payments were made afterwards, leading to arrears of Tk4,42,57,500, according to the notice issued by Advocate Md Saiful Abdin on behalf of CPA.
The authority sent reminder letters on 31 October 2022, 23 March 2023 and 26 December 2024, seeking payment of the outstanding rent and VAT.
Officials said the company did not respond and took no steps to settle the dues.
The CPA board, in a meeting on 15 March 2025, decided to cancel the land allocation.
On 30 July 2025, the authority served a legal notice asking the company to pay the outstanding amount within 15 days and hand over possession of the land.
The notice warned that legal action would follow under relevant laws if the company failed to comply.
More than eight months have passed since the notice, but no lawsuit has yet been filed.
“We will now take further measures in accordance with the law, including filing a case to recover the outstanding amount,” said Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim.
Saif Powertec was a major private operator at the port and operated the New Mooring Container Terminal for 17 years.
At present, CPA operates the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and the Dhaka Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kamalapur.
E-Engineering was engaged as a contractor for constructing the PCT, and the land was rented to facilitate storage and related activities for the project.
Attempts were made on 15 February to contact Saif Powertec Managing Director Tarafder Ruhul Amin by phone, but he did not respond.
A WhatsApp message was answered briefly, saying he would speak later that night.
Despite several follow-up calls on 15 February and again on 16 February, there was no further response.
After cancelling the lease, CPA reallocated the land through an open tender process.
About seven acres along with the river frontage were allocated to Transmarine Logistics Limited, and an additional 3.66 acres adjacent to the site were also allocated to the same company.
According to CPA, Transmarine Logistics has already paid Tk21.55 crore in advance rent to the authoriy.
A site visit on 16 February found that soil had been removed from a large portion of the area.
Sand extraction was ongoing at three nearby spots leased to Transmarine Logistics.
No visible construction work related to the proposed terminal was observed.
“Our own vessels as well as other ships will be able to berth there. We will share detailed plans in due course,” said Transmarine Logistics Limited Managing Director Syed Iqbal Ali Shimul.
