Tender for privatisation postponed

He announced the postponement at a meeting with the trade union leaders of the Chittagong port held at the Chittagong Port Training Centre.

The port users and workers have been demanding cancellation of the tender terming it flawed as it set some conditions the interested bidders in the country find it difficult to meet.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is apparently trying to go ahead with the plan to privatise the NCT.

On Thursday, it urged the Chittagong port users and all concerned to submit their suggestions in this regard within next seven days, sources said.

In a letter, CPA Chairman AMM Shahadat Hossain asked the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry to submit recommendations from the port users.

Earlier on the day, the CPA organised a meeting to exchange views with workers' organisations and stakeholders of the port, with the shipping minister in the chair.

All the users and most workers of the Chittagong port spoke in favour of privatisation of the NCT, but Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury was the only person at the meeting to oppose the move.

The CPA's letter sent to the CCCI president reads "In view of today's (Thursday) open discussion regarding management of New Mooring Container Terminal, the honourable minister for shipping expressed his desire that as a representative of all the port users including FBCCI, Shippers Council of Bangladesh, BGMEA, Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association, Bangladesh Master Stevedores' Association and C&F Agents' Association, you send well thought opinions/suggestions (regarding the management of NCT)."