The government will move forward with any agreement on operating the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port only if national interest is fully safeguarded, said Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
He made the remarks on Tuesday following a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.
Responding to a question on the NCT issue, Chowdhury said the government would take a decision strictly based on what best serves the country’s interest.
“The Chief Adviser has indicated that decisions will be made in favour of national interest,” he told reporters.
When asked about the stance of the current administration compared to the interim government, he noted that the earlier position was not about being for or against any agreement.
“The interim government had said that an agreement would only be considered if it ensured protection of national interest. I believe the current government is likely to take a similar position,” he added.
The BIDA chief also cautioned against rushing to conclusions, noting that this was the first meeting on the matter. “It would not be appropriate to draw any quick conclusions at this stage,” he said.
Regarding directives from the Prime Minister, Chowdhury said the officials briefed him on the issue. “He listened to us and provided some initial guidance, but did not offer a detailed directive yet,” he added.
The future of the New Mooring Container Terminal—considered a key facility for handling a significant portion of Bangladesh’s containerised trade—has remained under close scrutiny, with policymakers weighing operational efficiency against strategic national interests.