The Ministry of Shipping has directed the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) and Investment Bangladesh Authority (IBA) to initiate the process of appointing Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGTI) to operate the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and General Cargo Berth (GCB).
The ministry issued the directive on 28 September, it also instructed Invest Bangladesh to initiate the process concerning RSGTI’s appointment as the operator of the CCT and GCB.
The development came when government granted in-principle approval to appoint an international operator for 15 years to operate and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Overflow Container Yard (OCY).
Shipping Secretary Zakaria told TIMES by phone on Friday evening that the Saudi government had expressed interest in operating the CCT through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority.
“Relevant information has been sent to the Chattogram Port Authority for necessary feasibility studies and subsequent steps. A final decision will be taken only after recommendations from the port authority and approval from the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase,” he said.
The secretary said terminals at Chattogram Port are generally operated by contractors under arrangements lasting three to five years, although the tenure can be extended up to 15 years where necessary.
He said Dubai-based DP World had previously expressed interest in operating the CCT, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also shown interest.
Meanwhile, the shipping secretary said Bay Terminal offers significant opportunities for foreign investment.
A proposal involving Singapore is under active consideration, while preliminary discussions are underway with a Dubai-based investor on another proposal. Representatives from China and Qatar have also visited the project site and expressed interest in investing.
He said several countries and organisations had shown preliminary interest in Matarbari Deep Sea Port, but no formal proposal had yet been submitted.
“However, no final decision has been taken regarding the operation of the CCT. The process is still at a very preliminary stage,” Zakaria said.
A letter signed by Farzana Hossain, senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Shipping on 28 September, requested the chairman of Invest Bangladesh to process RSGT’s proposal to operate the CCT.
The letter also referred to RSGT’s expression of interest in implementing the CCT-GCB and Bay Port-Multipurpose Terminal projects under the PPP model.
Syed Aref Sarwar, head of Commercial & Public Affairs at RSGT Chittagong, told TIMES that RSGT plans to invest up to $1 billion in Bangladesh’s port sector, building on its operation of Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), the country’s first foreign-managed container terminal.
RSGT currently operates the PCT. The company said it invested $170 million to transform the terminal into a modern international facility equipped with advanced cargo-handling systems, digital technology and internationally recognised operational standards.
RSGT began operations at PCT in 2024 after signing a concession agreement with CPA and handled its first commercial vessel in June that year. Since then, it has expanded infrastructure and capacity and introduced international safety and efficiency standards.
Strategically located between the NCT and GCB, the CCT handled around 16% of Chattogram Port’s total container volume in 2025. The NCT handled about 44%, the GCB 36% and the PCT around 4%.
The CCT has two berths and can accommodate two container vessels simultaneously. It is currently operated by local terminal operator Saif Powertec.
The GCB has 12 berths, six of which handle container vessels and six general cargo vessels. The berths are operated by 12 local berth-operating companies.
