DP World secures 15-year concession at Chittagong’s New Mooring terminal
The Chittagong Port Authority retains ownership of the terminal, while DP World manages operations and maintenance.
BANGLADESH – The Chittagong Port Authority has signed a 15-year concession agreement with DP World to operate and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal, under a Public-Private Partnership framework, according to a joint statement.
Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, and Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman of DP World, signed the agreement in the presence of Shippers Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam and Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury.
Terminal upgrades and digital deployment
The development plan covers upgrades to civil and equipment infrastructure, the deployment of digital solutions, and operational enhancements to improve cargo-handling efficiency.
DP World will focus on berth planning, yard management, equipment utilization, preventive maintenance, and safety and sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong Port Authority retains ownership of the terminal, while DP World manages operations and maintenance.
The partnership builds on a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Dubai and Bangladesh’s Public-Private Partnership Authority.
For Bangladesh’s export economy, the terminal’s performance carries significant commercial weight. Chittagong handles more than 90% of the country’s international trade, and the garment sector depends on reliable container throughput.
Congestion at Chittagong has historically added days to vessel turnaround and increased detention and demurrage costs for exporters.
Rear Admiral Moniruzzaman said: “The New Mooring Container Terminal plays a critical role in supporting the country’s trade and logistics ecosystem, and this agreement will enhance operational performance, ease logistics constraints, and strengthen connectivity with international markets.”
Network integration and strategic context
Essa Kazim said DP World will connect the terminal to its global network of ports, logistics infrastructure and supply-chain services.
“By combining our operational expertise, technology and end-to-end logistics capabilities, we aim to support trade, attract investment and create new opportunities for businesses across the country,” he said.
The concession forms part of Bangladesh’s broader infrastructure programme, which includes the Matarbari deep-sea port and the Bay Terminal development, both designed to ease capacity constraints at Chittagong.
Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh, said: “We want faster operations, stronger connectivity and higher standards at one of our most important trade gateways. For Bangladesh, it means a port system better equipped for the scale of trade we want to build.”
Lastly, the partnership is expected to support workforce development and introduce international operating practices, thereby creating opportunities for local businesses to engage with regional and global supply chains.
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