Government has taken various steps to modernize Chittagong Port: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that in the last 17 years, the government has taken various developmental and technology-based steps to overcome various irregularities and operational inefficiencies of the Chittagong Seaport, increase its capacity, modernize it and ensure its smooth operations.
The Prime Minister gave this information in response to a written question from Sarwar Jamal Nizam, MP for Chittagong-13 constituency, in the second session of the Jatiya Sangsad today (July 15). Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal presided over the session. The Prime Minister said that the capacity of the Chittagong Seaport is continuously increasing.
Despite the global economic recession, the Covid-19 pandemic and various global adversities, the Chittagong Port remains operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7) and is conducting the country’s import and export activities smoothly. He said that in 2010, the volume of goods transported at Chittagong Port was 45.396663 metric tons and container handling was 13.43448 TEU.
In 2025, it increased to 138.151812 metric tons of goods and 34.969 TEU of containers. He said that in 2025, goods and container handling increased by 4.7 percent and 10.5 percent respectively compared to the previous year.
One of the activities that the government is implementing to further increase the capacity of Chittagong Port is the construction of new terminals and infrastructure development. For this purpose, the construction and operation of Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) has started. In addition, the construction of Laldia Container Terminal is progressing. Regular capital and maintenance dredging is also being done to maintain the navigability of the port.
The Prime Minister said that special emphasis has been placed on digitalization to make port management modern and dynamic. Under this, online port community system, e-delivery order, e-payment and various automation activities have been launched. Port security has been strengthened according to the international IPS code. Online payment system has been launched for users to pay port duties quickly and easily. In addition, e-gate pass has been introduced to facilitate vehicle entry and CPA Sky and Port Single Window have been launched as part of the implementation of ‘paperless port’. Initiatives have also been taken to implement complete automation in the overall operations of the port.
He further said that initiatives have been taken to procure new equipment in the fiscal year 2025-26 to increase the container and cargo handling capacity of Chittagong Port. Out of this, work orders have been given for the procurement of three five-ton capacity forklifts. In addition, tenders for the procurement of two empty container handling forklifts and two 10-ton forklifts are under evaluation. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government is continuously working to further enhance the efficiency and capacity of the country’s main seaport, Chittagong Port, through infrastructure development, expansion of technology-based services, and procurement of modern equipment. The implementation of these initiatives will further accelerate the country’s import-export activities in the future and increase Bangladesh’s competitiveness in international trade.