NCT deal signing unlikely during interim govt tenure: Ashik Chowdhury
The proposed concession agreement with UAE‑based port operator DP World for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong Port is unlikely to be signed during the tenure of the interim government, according to Public‑Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) CEO Ashik Chowdhury.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy today, Ashik said, “We’ve received a letter from DP World today, stating they need more time to complete their internal legal review of the draft agreement.”
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“Only two working days remain, and realistically it will be difficult to complete our own cabinet approval process and formal signing in this term,” he explained.
The letter from DP World expressed appreciation for the ongoing bilateral negotiation process and optimism about its future, but stopped short of committing to any immediate action beyond reviewing the draft concession agreement shared by Bangladesh.
Ashik clarified that PPPA’s role is to facilitate, not finalise, such deals.
“The Chittagong Port Authority is the contracting authority. We are here to ensure the process is sound, but the final decision and contract lie with them,” he said.
He dismissed reports that a fixed signing date had been set for February 1, calling it a “rumour” and reiterating that no deal should be rushed at the cost of national interest.
Highlighting the broader importance of port efficiency, he noted that Bangladesh’s global port ranking stands at 339, far behind where it should be.
“Without upgrading to global standards, including through public‑private partnerships, we will not attract serious foreign investment,” Ashik said.
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