Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam told Parliament that there is no plan to hand over Chattogram Port to any foreign operator. He made the clarification while responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Shahadat Hossain during the parliamentary question session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The minister explained that operators are appointed only for terminal management under government or Public Private Partnership Authority approval, and both domestic and foreign operators are eligible for consideration.

He added that several terminals are currently operated by both local and foreign entities to enhance port capacity in line with modernization and trade growth. For example, the Patenga Container Terminal is managed by a foreign operator, and a PPP agreement has been signed with Denmark-based Maersk Group subsidiary APM Terminals BV for the Laldia Container Terminal. The minister emphasized that Chattogram Port is an autonomous body governed by a board under a chairman, implementing government policy decisions as required.

The statement aimed to clarify the government’s stance amid questions about foreign involvement in port operations and to highlight ongoing modernization efforts at the country’s main seaport.