Tender proceedings at the Port of Chittagong’s container terminals have been suspended by the Bangladesh High Court (HC) ahead of a bidding process for new terminal operators.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) opened a tender process on 6 May to identify two separate private operators for four berths of the New Mooring Container Terminal.
A petition has since been produced, alleging the tender documents did not fulfil the requirements of Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006, and Public Procurement Rule (PPR), 2008.
The HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo issued an interim order, following a petition filed by Container and Terminal Services Ltd.
The CPA was ordered not to be directed to invite fresh tender offers, ensuring fair competition and compliance with the provisions of PPA and PPR.
Chittagong is Bangladesh’s biggest port, handling 90% of its imports and exports. In 2013, Chittagong handled 1.5m teu.
