NMCT cargo handling tender in December

CHITTAGONG, Oct 31: The New Mooring Container Terminal (NMCT) under the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is likely to go into operation shortly.
It is hoped, as the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry in its meeting on October 29 has decided to float tender for appointment of an interim cargo handling operator in NMCT by December.
Committee Chairman Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam said in the meeting they suggest appointment of a private operator through international tender to use NMCT's cargo handling equipments.
A member of the committee said the operator will be appointed for an interim period, as the process of floating international tender is time-consuming.
He said the JS body members emphasised appointing an experienced and financially solvent operator for the terminal. They also opined that no handling operator will be appointed for each berth of the 5-berth NMCT.
The committee stated that NMCT is now ready for full-swing operation, so tender can be called for interim selection of a container handling operator.

Rafiqul Islam also said the port's capacity has improved a lot following a considerable growth in cargo and container handling due to various development activities undertaken by CPA.
Meanwhile, stakeholders, who feared the port's operations might be disrupted due to various problems, have termed the latest move of floating tender positive.
Ruling party leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury has also expressed satisfaction at the step.
"It is a primary victory of the port workers that the parliamentary standing committee has decided to appoint a cargo handling operator for NMCT through tender and not through DPM (direct procurement method)," he told a meeting of the Chattagram Bandar Raksha Parishad on Thursday.
Director of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahfuzul Hoque Shah said the decision to run NMCT is positive, as the port users have been facing delay in delivery of import cargo.
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