Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that the government will not undertake any project that undermines national interests. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after inspecting operational activities at Chattogram port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The minister said global terminal operator DP World has submitted a proposal to manage the NCT, which the government is currently reviewing. He emphasized that any decision will prioritize the interests of the country and port workers.

Alam described the NCT as a fully functional terminal that has progressed with time, noting that the government is analyzing whether to expand its capacity independently or through a foreign operator. He said the evaluation focuses on how national and workers’ interests can be safeguarded if foreign operators are involved. Referring to past protests over foreign operator appointments, he added that if national interests outweigh other concerns, the government will coordinate with workers to reach consensus.

The minister also said that all procurement methods, including open tender, G2G, and DPM, are valid, and DP World’s proposal is under review through the G2G process. If national interests are not protected, the government will switch to open tender and announce a decision soon.