Bangladesh has signed a 15-year concession giving Dubai-based DP World responsibility for operating and maintaining the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port, while the port authority retains ownership. The agreement covers the terminal and its overflow container yard.
The arrangement brings an international operator into an existing facility rather than commissioning a new port. DP World says the partnership builds on a 2019 memorandum of understanding between Dubai’s government and Bangladesh’s Public-Private Partnership Authority to develop infrastructure through public-private projects.
New Mooring is an established part of Chattogram Port’s container infrastructure. The concession covers the modernization and operation of a terminal already serving importers and exporters, placing the transition within Bangladesh’s existing trade network.
Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s maritime and trade infrastructure through the Public-Private Partnership framework. 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. By supporting domestic industry and facilitating more efficient trade flows, the partnership will strengthen Bangladesh's position in regional and global supply chains while creating a stronger platform for investment and long-term economic growth.”
The financial package includes an upfront fee of approximately $48.7 million [BDT 600 crore] payable to the Chattogram Port Authority, alongside an investment commitment exceeding $81.2 million [BDT 1,000 crore] over the first 10 years for terminal modernization, equipment and technology.
Those amounts serve different purposes: the upfront fee is payable to the Chattogram Port Authority, while the investment commitment concerns improvements at the terminal. The announcement also says the authority will receive a revenue share and a fixed annual fee, adding recurring receipts to the initial payment.
Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh, stated: “Our objective is to move trade at global speed. Bringing DP World into New Mooring Container Terminal is an important step in that direction. We at Invest Bangladesh are pleased to have supported this major port PPP. 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.”
Oversight and the Transition to Operations
Ownership of the terminal, land and infrastructure remains with the port authority and Bangladesh’s government. Existing security arrangements involving the Navy, Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration and other state agencies will continue. The government’s summary also sets out monitoring, audit and reporting requirements for oversight of terminal operations.
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Executive Chairman of DP World, said: “We thank the Government of Bangladesh and the Chittagong Port Authority for awarding this concession on the Public Private Partnership model. Bangladesh is an increasingly important trading and manufacturing economy, and we are committed to supporting its continued development. Through this partnership, DP World will connect the New Mooring Container Terminal to our global network of ports, logistics infrastructure and supply chain services, helping create more seamless links between Bangladesh and international markets. 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.”
The government says local employment will continue and training will accompany new technology. Those assurances will be tested during implementation. Public access to the contract and subsequent performance reports would allow users and employees to compare the announced commitments with the obligations actually enforced.
Port Efficiency Within a Wider Investment Program
The operational challenge reaches beyond a single terminal. In a 2024 announcement on financing for the separate Bay Terminal project, the World Bank described Chattogram as the gateway for more than 90% of Bangladesh’s international trade volume and 98% of its container traffic.
That announcement identified capacity constraints, including restrictions on vessel size and operating hours. The bank approved $650 million for marine infrastructure at Bay Terminal, including a breakwater and dredging. This separate project addresses access and capacity, while the New Mooring concession concerns management and modernization of an operating facility.
Measuring progress also requires care. The World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index focuses on the time container ships spend in port. It warns that results reflect broader shipping conditions, including geopolitical disruptions and climate constraints, and should be used diagnostically rather than to assign blame.
The World Bank’s research on South Asian ports also emphasizes governance and competition alongside private investment. Its recommendations include stronger port authority boards and transparent, competitive concession bidding, placing terminal modernization within a broader framework for managing maritime trade infrastructure.
